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TRANSACTIONS

OF TH.i

GAELIC SOCIETY OF l^YE

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V O L U M- E V . ,

1875-6.

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TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS.

VOLUME V.

1875-6

^RANSACTIONS

OF

THE GAELIC SOCIETY

OF

INVERNESS.

V O L U M K V.,

YEAR 1875-6

"V-;

Claim nan d>atbheal an dwaitten a' Cheile.

PRINTED FOR THE GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS, BY

R. CARRUTHERS AND SONS, AND SOLD BY

JOHN NOBLE, JAMES H. MACKENZIE, JAMES MELVEN, AND WILLIAM

MACKAY, BOOKSELLERS, INVERNESS, AND MACLACHLAN

AND STEWART, EDINBURGH.

1876

VA

CONTENTS.

PAGE
Office-bearers for 1876 . . . . • , vii.

Constitution ........ viii.

Introduction ........ xiii.

Fourth Annual Assembly ...... 1

Fionnladh Choinneachain, Mac na Bantraich — A. A. Carmichael,

Benbecula . . . . . 19

Fourth Annual Supper — Annual Report — Speeches by the Provost,

Mr Stewart of Brm, Wm. Mackay, solicitor, Wm. Jolly,

M.A., H.M. Inspector of Schools, John Murdoch, Alex.

Mackenzie, auctioneer, Bailie Noble, Rev. Lachlan Mac-

lachlan, &c. . . . . . .38

Conlaoch — Lachlan Macbean, Inverness . . . .59

Notes on the Affinity between Gaelic and German — William

Morrison, M.A., Dingwall . , . . .64

Highland Minstrelsy — Hugh Rose, solicitor ... 71

Rob Donn — John Mackay, Montreal . . . .81

Some Causes of the Imperfect Appreciation by Englishmen of the

Ossianic Poems — C. S. Jerram, M.A., Windlesham, Surrey 97
Honorary Chieftains and Members . . . . .111

Books in the Library . . . . . .121

OF

CHIEF.
Professor Blackie.

CHIEF TAIN S .

Charles Maekay, Culduthel Road.
John Noble, Castle Street.
Alex. Fraser, Church Street.

HONORARY SECRETARY.

William Mackay, solicitor, Church Street.

SECRETARY.
William Mackenzie, "Free Press" Office, Inverness.

TREASURER.
Evan G. Mackenzie, solicitor, High Street.

COUNCIL.

Alex. Mackenzie, auctioneer, Inglis Street.
Huntly Fraser, merchant, Tomnahurich Street.
James Fraser, C.E., Castle Street.
James H. Mackenzie, bookseller, High Street.
Lachlan Maebean, Hill Street.

LIBRARIAN.

Lachlan Maebean.

BARD.

Mrs Mary Maekellar.

PIPER.

Pipe-Major Alexander Maclennan.

BANKERS.

The Caledonian Banking Company.

COMUNN GAILIG INBHIR-NIS.

CO-SHUIDHEACHADH

1. 'S e ainm a Chomuinn " COMUNN GAILIG

2. 'S e tha an run a' Chomuinn : — Na buill a dheanamh iomlan 'sa'
Ghailig; cinneas Canaine, Bardachd, agus Ciuil na Gaidhealtachd;
Bardachd, Seanchas, Sgeulachd, Leabhraichean agus Sgriobhanna 's
a' chanain sin a thearnad o dhearmad; Leabhar-lann a chur suas
ann am baile Inbhir-Nis de leabhraichibh agus sgriobhannaibh —
ann an canain sam bith — a bhuineas do Chaileachd, lonnsachaidh,
Eachdraidheachd agus Sheanachasaibh nan Gaidheal no de thairbhe
na Gaidhealtachd; coir agus cliu nan Gaidheal a dhion; agus na
Gaidheil a shoirbheachadh a ghn*t ge b'e ait am bi iad.

3. 'S iad a bhitheas 'nam buill, cuideachd a tha 'gabhail suim do
runtaibh a' Chomuinn, agus so mar gheibh iad a staigh: — Tairgidh
aon bhall an t-iarradair, daingnichidh ball eile an tairgse, agus, aig
an ath choinneamh, ma roghnaicheas a' mhor-chuid le crannchur,
nithear ball dhith-se 110 dheth-san cho luath 's a phaidhear an comh-
thoirt; cuirear crainn le ponair dhubh agus gheal, ach, gu so bhi
dligheachd, feumaidh tri buill dheug an crainn a chur. Feudaidh
an Comunn Urram Cheannardan a thoirt do urrad 'us seachd daoine
cliuiteach.

4. Paidhidh ball mramach, 'sa' bhliadhna . £0 10 6
Ball cumanta . ' .-' . $rS T- .050
Foghlainte ...... 010

Agus ni ball-beatha aon chomb-thoirt de . 770

5. 'S a' Cheud-mhios, gach bliadhna, roghnaichear, le crainn,
Co-chomhairle a riaghlas gnothuichean a' Chomuinn, 's e sin — aon
Cheann, tri lar-chinn, Cleireach Urramach, Runaire, lonmhasair,
agus coig buill eile — feumaidh iad uile Gailig a thuigsinn 's a
bhruidhinn; agus ni coigear dhiubh coinneamh.

GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS.

CONSTITUTION.

1. The Society shall be called the "GAELIC SOCIETY OF IN-
VERNESS."

2. The objects of the Society are the perfecting of the Mem-
bers in the use of the Gaelic language; the cultivation of the
language, poetry, and music of the Scottish Highlands; the res-
cuing from oblivion of Celtic poetry, traditions, legends, books,
and manuscripts; the establishing in Inverness of a library, to
consist of books and manuscripts, in whatever language, bearing
upon the genius, the literature, the history, the antiquities, and
the material interests of the Highlands and Highland people; the
vindication of the rights and character of the Gaelic people; and,
generally, the furtherance of their interests whether at home or
abroad.

3. The Society shall consist of persons who take a lively in-
terest in its objects, admission to be as follows: — The candidate
shall be proposed by one member, seconded by another, balloted
for at the next meeting, and if he or she have a majority of votes,
and have paid the subscription, be declared a member. The ballot
shall be taken with black beans and white; and no election shall
be valid unless thirteen members vote. The Society has power to
elect distinguished men as Honorary Chieftains to the number of
seven.

4. The Annual Subscription shall be, for —
Honorary Members . . . ,£0 10 6
Ordinary Members . . . . 050
Apprentices . . . .7 010
A Life Member shall make one payment of 7 7 0

5. The management of the affairs of the Society shall ]| be en-
trusted to a Council, chosen annually, by ballot, in the month of
January, to consist of a Chief, three Chieftains, an | Honorary
Secretary, a Treasurer, and five other Members of the Society,
all of whom shall understand and speak Gaelic; five -| to form a
quorum.

x. Co-shuidheachadh,

6. Cumar coinneamhan a' Chomuinn gach seachduin o thoiseach
an Deicheamh mios gu deireadh Mhairt, agus gach ceithir-la-deug
o thoiseach Ghiblein gu deireadh an Naothamh-mios. 'S i a' Ghailig
a labhaiiear gach oidhche mu'n seacli aig a chuid a's lugha.

7. Cuiridh a' Cho-chomhairle la air leth anns an t-Seachdamh-
mios air-son Coinneamh Bhliadhnail aig an cumar Co-dheuchainn
agus air an toirear duaisean air-son Piobaireachd 'us ciuil Ghaidh-
ealach eile ; anns an f heasgar bithidh co-dheuchainn air Leughadh
agus aithris Bardachd agus Rosg nuadh agus taghta ; an deigh sin
cumar Cuirm chuideachdail aig am faigh nithe Gaidhealach rogh-
ainn 'san uirghioll, ach gun roinn a dhiultadh dhaibh-san nach tuig
Gailig. Giulainear cosdas na co-dheuchainne le trusadh sbnraichte
a dheanamh agus cuideachadh iarraidh o'n t-sluagh.

8. Cha deanar atharrachadh sam bith air coimh-dhealbhadh a'
Chomuinn gun aontachadh dha thrian de na'ni bheil de luchd-
bmidhinn Gailig air a' chlar-ainm. Ma's miann atharrachadh a
dheanamh a's eiginn sin a chur an ceill do gach ball, mios, aig a'
chuid a's lugha, roimh'n choinneamh a dhTheudas an t-athariathadh
a dheanamh. Feudaidh ball nach bi a lathair roghnachadh le
lamh-aithne.

6. Taghaidh an Comunn Bard, Piobaire, agus Fear-leabhar-lann.

Ullaichear gach Paipear agus Leughadh, agus giulainear gach
Deasboireachd le run fosgailte, duineil, ilurachdach air-son na
f irinn, agus cuirear gach ni air aghaidh ann an spiorad caomh
glan, agus a reir riaghailtean dearbhta.

Constitution. xi.

6. The Society shall hold its meetings weekly from the be-
ginning of October to the end of March, and fortnightly from the
beginning of April to the end of September. The business shall
be carried on in Gaelic on every alternate night at least.

7. There shall be an Annual Meeting in the month of July,
the day to be named by the Committee for the time being, when
Competitions for Prizes shall take place in Pipe and other High-
land Music. In the evening there shall be Competitions in Read-
ing and Reciting Gaelic Poetry and Prose, both original and select.
After which there will be a Social Meeting, at which Gaelic sub-
jects shall have the preference, but not to such an extent as entirely
to preclude participation by persons who do not understand Gaelic.
The expenses of the competitions shall be defrayed out of a special
fund to which the general public shall be invited to subscribe.

8. It is a fundamental rule of the Society that no part of the
Constitution shall be altered without the assent of two-thirds of the
Gaelic-speaking Members on the roll ; but if an alteration be re-
quired due notice of the same must be given to each member, at
least one month before the meeting takes place at which the alter-
ation is proposed to be made. Absent Members may vote by
mandates.

9. The Society shall elect a Bard, a Piper, and a Librarian.

All Papers and Lectures shall be prepared, and all Discussions
carried on, with an honest, earnest, and manful desire for truth:
and all proceedings shall be conducted in a pure and gentle spirit,
and according to the usually recognised rules.

INTRODUCTION.

In issuing to the members the fifth volume of the Transactions
of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, the Publishing Committee view
with pleasure the interest now-a-days taken in all matters con-
nected with the Celtic language and literature. Five years ago,
when the Society was established, the Gaelic world, as such, was
dormant, and it is believed that the awakening which has since
taken place is due in no small measure to the Society's exertions
and publications. Older societies in the South acquired new
life, and new societies were started into existence. All these
organisations are now at work with more or less vigour; and it
may be safely asserted that healthy Celtic enthusiasm has never
been higher than at the present time.

In the Transactions for last year, a sketch was given of the
various steps taken towards the establishment of a Celtic Chair in
one of our universities. Since then the labours of Professor
Blackie, the present Chief of our Society, have been bearing more
and more fruit, and now the whole sum which he originally set
himself to collect is all but in his hand. There is scarcely a Celtic
meeting at which our venerable Chief is not present advocating
the interests of the Chair; and everywhere he is greeted with a
Highland welcome. Our Society takes some pride in the fact that
he began his campaign by giving a lecture under its auspices. To
his cath-ghairm there has been many a hearty response from High-
landers in all parts of the world. The Professor's " brither Scots"

XIV.

listened to it, and gave their money, and its influence has been felt
by "John Bull" himself, who has just founded a Celtic Chair at
Oxford. It is even said that there will ere long be another at
Cambridge, and there is already a movement to establish one in
Dublin University.

Celtic literature is now being studied by people who were
formerly considered the natural aliens of everything Celtic. In
a previous volume of Transactions, allusion was made to the
labours of Mr C. S. Jerram in tlie Celtic field, and in this volume
the members are presented with a paper from his pen. Dr Hately
Waddell has published an able work on the Ossianic question, and
before this volume will be in the hands of all the members it is
expected that he will lecture in Inverness under the auspices of
the Society on the same subject. Professor Blackie has issued a
valuable book on Gaelic Literature — a work which will be long
treasured by all Highlanders; and Mr Skene's admirable "Celtic
Scotland" has also been published during the year. So much for
the labours of those who, not speaking a Celtic language as their
mother-tongue, acquired a scholarly knowledge of it for themselves.

The Very Rev. Canon Bourke, of Tuam, Ireland, in course of
last year, gave to the world a volume on the Aryan Origin of the
Celtic Races, and we hear that a second edition of it is now in the
press. Mr Lachlan Macbean, Inverness, the librarian of this
Society, and one of its first members, compiled and published a
series of easy lessons in Gaelic, whilst, in the same line, Messrs
Maclachlan & Stewart, Edinburgh, issued a new edition, with a
preface by Dr Maclauchlan, of Dr Stewart's Gaelic Grammar.
Logan's " Scottish Gael," edited by the Rev. Alexander Stewart,
Nether-Lochaber correspondent of the Inverness Courier, has been
published by Mr Hugh Mackenzie, Inverness.

Of our magazines and newspapers, the oldest is the Gael. The
character of this magazine need not be explained to the members
of this Society. It has now lived for five years, and, judging from
the healthy character of its articles, it is likely to live for many
years to come. The Highlander newspaper, which is now in its

3CV.

fourth year, still flourishes ; and the Celtic Magazine, conducted
by the late Secretary of this Society, and editor of the last volume
of Transactions, regularly appeal's with its instalments'1^ Celtic
lore. Recently a new weekly paper, the Glasgow Highlander,
was started in Glasgow. Buaidh leis na seoid. These are special
Celtic organs that have come into existence since the formation of
this Society. Our northern local newspapers — particularly the
Inverness Courier and the Inverness Advertiser — have always been
ready to give publicity to our doings, and the success which has
attended the Society's labours is much owing to the help received
at their hands.

The field of Highland music has of late been well cultivated.
Mr William Mackay, the first secretary of this Society, recently
edited, and Hugh Mackenzie, Inverness, re-issued, the collection
of Highland music made by Captain Eraser of Knockie. Miss
Morrison, Kintail, published a collection of Highland airs which
deserve to be better known. Messrs Logan & Co., Inverness,
since the publication of our last Transactions, issued a collection of
cedl mdr, &c., arranged for the pianoforte, a third edition of which
we understand is now in the press. These works are intended for
instrumentalists. Vocalists, however, were neglected \ and to
meet this desideratum, the Gael took a step in the right direction
by publishing a popular Gaelic song (with music in the two nota-
tions) monthly during the past four years. The Highlander has
of late been giving a Gaelic song, with music, in the tonic sol-fa
notation weekly, and the Celtic Magazine has begun to work in
the same field, the first song, with music, having appeared in its
January number. - The Gaelic Society of London recently issued a
collection of Gaelic airs, which was bought up before the general
public were well aware of its existence; and Mr H. C. Gillies,
Culloden, a member of our Society, has a collection of Gaelic songs,
with music, in the printer's hands.

Looking to the facts above stated, and to the revival of Celtic
manners and customs, as evidenced among other ways by the
numerous Shinty Clubs which have of late been formed by High-

XVI.

landers from home, the Publishing Committee have cause to con-
gratulate the members of the Society on the awakened' interest
now taken in the various objects for the promotion of which the
Society was established.

21 Union Street, Inverness, January 1877.

TRANSACTIONS.

STH JULY 1875.
FOURTH ANNUAL ASS.EMBLY.

Tliis evening — the first night of the Inverness Great Sheep and
Wool Fair — the Society held its Fourth Annual Assembly in the
Upper Hall of the Northern Meeting Rooms. During the day a
number of strangers had arrived to attend the Wool Market ; and
the night being an open one — little business being done on Thursday
evening — these crowded in along with the townspeople, until the
spacious ballroom was filled in every corner. Four pipers — Pipe-
Major Maclennan, the Society's Piper; Pipe-Major Watt, Pipe-
Corporal Macdonald, and Mr Macdonald, Hilton — played in the
entrance hall while the company assembled.

Shortly before eight o'clock, Mr Fraser-Mackintosh, M.P.,
Chief of the Society, entered the hall, accompanied to the plat-
form by the following gentlemen, viz. : — Provost Lyon-Mackenzie,
Professor Blackie, Capt. Fraser of Balnain, Bailie Simpson, Bailie
Macbean, Bailie Baillie, Bailie Davidson, Inverness ; Captain Chis-
holm of Glassburn; Dr George F. Forbes, Bombay Army; Dr
Carruthers, of the " Inverness Courier" ; Sheriff Macdonald, In-
verness: Councillor Huntly Fraser, Inverness; Dr F. M. Mac-
kenzie, Church Street, Inverness; Dr George Duncan, Conchra,
Lochalsh; Councillor P. Falconer, Inverness; Dr Bryce, of Glas-
gow; Cimncillor Noble, Inverness; Professor Black, Aberdeen;
Rev. Dr Mackenzie, Silverwells; Rev. Alexander Macgregor, In-
verness ; Rev. Lachlan Maclachlan, Gaelic Church, Inverness ; Rev.
J. W. Wright, Inverness; Rev. A. Macdonald, Queen Street Free

2 Transactions.

Church, Inverness ; Rev. A. D. Mackenzie, Beauly; Messrs Alex.
Dallas, Town-Clerk; Allan Macdonald, Commissioner for The
Mackintosh; H. C. Macandrew, Sheriff-clerk of Inverness-shire;
D. Macrae, Fernaig; Wm. Jolly, Inspector of Schools; Walter
Carruthers, Gordon ville; Alex. Ross, architect; M. E. Mather of
Glen-Druidh; H. Fraser, Balloch; James Gumming, Allanfearn;
John Murdoch, editor of the Highlander ; Angus Nicolson, editor
of the Gael; R. Scott, solicitor, Inverness; James Ross, solicitor,
Inverness ; D. Macrae, Camusunary ; Duncan Macrae, Ardintoul ;
Ewen Macrae, Ardtulloch, Australia; Simon Fraser, banker, Loch-
carron; A. R. Macraild, Lochalsh; A. C. Mackenzie, Mary burgh;
Alex. Mackenzie, Secretary of the Society, and Hugh Mackay, de-
puty from the Ossianic Society of Greenock.

Apologies for absence were announced from the following: — Sir
Kenneth S. Mackenzie, Bart, of Gairloch; Sir George Macpherson-
Grant, Bart, of Ballindalloch; General Sir Patrick Grant; Major
Ewen Macpherson of Cluny, 93d Highlanders; Professor Geddes,
Aberdeen University; Dr Maclauchlan, Edinburgh; Mr J. F. Camp-
bell of Islay; Captain Gordon Macpherson of Cluny; Lieutenant-
Colonel Mackenzie, Poyntzfield; Osgood H. Mackenzie of Inver-
ewe; Angus Mackintosh of Holme; Dr Mackenzie of Eileanach;
and E. W. Mackintosh of Raigmore.

The Chief having taken the chair, commenced the proceedings
with the following address : — Before proceeding to make some re-
marks apposite to our present meeting, I take this opportunity,
the first which has presented itself, of thanking, as I do now
sincerely thank, the Society for electing me to the honourable post
of its Chief. Nearly three years have elapsed since I last had the
pleasure of being present at one of your meetings, and though
many events have since occurred, the pleasure of presiding at the
supper in December 1872 occasionally passes across my mind as
an agreeable reminiscence. It was right that Inverness, as the
capital and centre of the Highlands, should have taken a decided
part in a movement intended to preserve not only the past litera-
ture and traditions of the Highlands, but also to do something for
the vindication and conservation of Highland feeling and Highland
interests in the present. I may add that this was the more neces-
sary because there is, and has always been in Inverness, what may
without invidiousness be termed a foreign element, valuable in many
respects, but still an element which, in so far as regards the objects
of our Society, has exercised a paralysing influence, not merely
within the town and immediate neighbourhood, but over the High-
lands generally. For a considerable time land was locked up by

Annual Assembly. 3

strict entails, or in the hands of impoverished proprietors. Com-
munication was difficult, prices fluctuated, and the general tendency
was the enlargement of farms, and the still greater impoverishment
of the people; and it had become too much the practice, not only in
the North, but over the kingdom, to decry the Highlander, whilst
the periodic occurrence of famine was said to demonstrate that
emigration was the proper and only destiny of the Highlanders.
From a combination of causes, the population in the Highlands
has steadily diminished, and while agricultural prices have risen,
labour has done so in a still greater degree, and we cannot shut
our eyes to the fact that the prospect of many of our Highland
small farmers, crofters, and peasants being bettered, are of a sombre
character. In these circumstances, it occurred to several, some of
whom are now present, that it would be a right thing to establish
here, in the capital of the Highlands, a society from which should
emanate a desire for the collection and preservation of much that is
interesting of a glorious past, and for the furtherance and fostering
of efforts for the amelioration of the present. As Highlanders, we
are proud of our country, and particularly proud of our descent.
This sentiment ought to animate us in our career through life.
Who among us, I may ask, and let him look over the whole
world, would have been born other than he is 1 Is this, then, not
of value 1 I say it is of a value the wealth of India cannot
purchase ; and from the inheritance we derive as the offspring
of a race eminently sober, chaste, and warlike, we enter upon the
arena of life under great advantages. While, then, we are to be,
in the present, busy, active, and persevering, the loyal sons of a
beloved Queen who rules over an unhomogeneous, but still united
people, it should be our anxious care to preserve and hold by the
virtues and example of those who have gone before us. In so doing
we are fulfilling our proper part and laying a sure foundation for
gaining the respect and sympathy of those who come after. We
do not, of course, arrogate too much to ourselves and our exertions,
but since our Society was started, about four years ago, a great
impetus has been given to Gaelic spirit, and numerous associations
with kindred objects in view have sprung into existence ; the
great movement for a Celtic Chair, has been organised, and is now
being brought to a successful issue; and a newspaper specially
devoted to Highland interests has been established. Our Society
has published some interesting and valuable information. The
volume now passing through the press I have had the pleasure of
looking over, and I can say that it is superior to any of the previ-
ous ones. I will single out the translation of the " Dan an Dearg,"

4 Transactions.

by our townsman, Mr Lachlan Macbean. If nothing else were in
the volume, it would be worth the 3s. 6d. charged to non-members.
Mr Mackintosh Shaw's paper as to the unfortunate occurrence in
the 42d Regiment is a most interesting historical paper, and the
paper by Dr Maclauchlan is also of scientific value. We are
honoured with the presence here to-night of several distinguished
men who are to speak on specific topics in which our Society is
interested, and I have been requested to devote myself to
one in which the Society has taken a special interest, viz., the
teaching of the mother tongue in the schools in Gaelic-speaking
districts. Formerly, as you are aware, the parish schools were
under the charge of the heritors and presbyteries, who had the
chief control of the subjects taught. Under this government
some regard was paid to the Gaelic language, and more parti-
cularly the reading of the Gaelic Bible and the Catechism were
taught as ordinary lessons over a wide district. This, though
feeble and limited in area, did serve to keep up, as it were, a
glimmer of the language in a fundamental subject. By the Educa-
tion Act of 1872, Government took the matter under its own con-
trol, and it is with Government we Highlanders have now to deal
in the matter of teaching Gaelic. It is almost childish to assert
that a child must make more progress in the mother tongue than
in a foreign language, yet there has been such a desire to obliterate
the Gaelic language, which has been falsely charged as the real
cause of the Highlander's inferior position, that the teaching in
the mother tongue has been ignored as far as possible. The
limited education which poor children could receive was thus of
little use ; the child at home heard and spoke nothing but Gaelic ;
on his way to and from school, in the playground with his com-
panions, Gaelic alone was used; and in these circumstances what
else could be expected, but that English and other branches were
taught to him, not as a thing which he understood, but " learnt
by heart," to use a common school expression. This child, when
he left school, which depended much on the wealth or poverty of
the parent, accordingly never having had his intellect awakened,
or curiosity excited, gradually lost the little knowledge he acquired,
and the general results were what all of us must deplore. Now
there is a danger of these evils being continued. We do not
desire that the Gaelic children only learn their own language
properly; far from it. We desire that they be placed in that
position from which alone they can compete with fairness in the
race of life with their fellows. It will not do to ignore the exist-
ence of the language. No mistake can be greater. Everything

Annual Assembly. 5

has been done to carry out this object, but while the object has
not been attained, and Gaelic is still loved and treasured by the
people, they themselves are probably in a lower and more hopeless
condition. Let us see what will be the effect of teaching Gaelic
in schools under the present system. In the first place, there is
the great advantage that children must attend a much longer
period than the average under the old voluntary system. Thus
we may reasonably expect that what is learnt at school will
have a more lasting effect. Next, with regard to the Gaelic-
speaking children, the basis should be, which is the best mode
by which the required information and knowledge can be at-
tained 1 We say it can be done by utilizing the Gaelic language,
whereby the intellect and curiosity of the child are awakened, and
he then begins to comprehend what he is being taught ; the spirit
of emulation next comes into operation, and without losing his
Gaelic, but actually by means of it, the child comes to be master
of the subjects communicated, and will be better able to go through
life than the English child. When he leaves school, understanding
what he has been taught, he will, as far as his means allow, continue
the study of English and English literature necessarily as the
leading language, though he need not forget his mother tongue.
Would any one of us who knows Gaelic say, I wish I had it not,
or knowing other languages, would say the same of them 1 On
the Continent many commercial men, and these the most successful,
speak six or eight languages. I conclude by observing that
possessing a knowledge of Gaelic will be of great help, and its
teaching in the manner suggested the most important boon which
could be bestowed on the people. Is the Government, however,
friendly to these views 1 By no means ; and it will require de-
cided movement and petitions from every Gaelic-speaking district
to awaken the Education Department to a sense of the true posi-
tion. If this be done, and I am thereby enabled to present as it
were an unbroken front on behalf of all those concerned, I shall
early next session give notice of moving a resolution on the subject
in the House of Commons, and support it to the best of my power
by a simple narrative of the failure of past modes of dealing with
the education of the Highland peasant, and the certainty of success
by the manner I have indicated. All depends on the number and
extent of the petitions. I commend, as an example, that which I
presented this session from the parish of Gairloch, signed by
upwards of 600 persons, including its honoured and popular pro-
prietor, and every one of influence within its bounds. It is to the
credit of the Inverness poet, Macdonald, now dead, that about

6 Transactions.

thirty years ago a petition in verse was first sent to Parliament by
him in favour of this Celtic Chair, which Professor Blackie has
done so much to establish. In standing up for fairness being dealt
out to the Gaelic-speaking districts and in preserving the language,
which, having been handed down to us, we are bound to transmit,
our Society is acting an important part; and in conclusion, as to
Gaelic generally, slightly altering the famous Cornish rhyme, let
this be our determination —

Before the Gaelic die !

Before the Gaelic die !

Ten times thirty thousand Highland men

Shall know the reason why,

Shall know the reason why.

The Reel of Tulloch was then danced by Messrs John Mac-
pherson, James Gordon, James Finlay, and Peter Stuart, Strath-
spey. The performance was loudly applauded. Miss Annie
Ferrier, accompanied by Miss Maclernan on the pianoforte, sang
very prettily " The Piper of Dundee," which was also heartily
cheered.

Mr Macandrew next addressed the meeting. He assumed that
they were all agreed on one point — that the Gaelic language was
well worth preserving, especially by those who, whether they spoke
it or not, bore Highland names, and were descended from High-
landers. Now, why was it so well worth preserving 1 They would
admit this — that if the population was to be brought more and
more into contact with people of another race; if they and their
sons, and their sons' sons, must look for success in life elsewhere
than on the soil of their country, then the speaking of Gaelic alone
must be a disadvantage. Again, without disparaging the literary
remains of the Highlands — he admired them as heartily as any
man — still, the language did not contain such a body of literature
as to make it worth preserving merely on that account. In a
philological point of view, Gaelic was most interesting. The his-
tory of the human race, as traced in its language, would be incom-
plete— would want one of its most important links — if Gaelic were
forgotten. But this was a subject of more interest to philologers
and literary men "than to men of the world. And yet, though he
did not speak Gaelic, he desired as heartily as any of them to have
it preserved ; and he contended that it should be preserved, because
it was the language which their ancestors spoke — which expressed
the hopes and fears, the heroism and poetry of the race from which

Annual Assembly. 7

they came. To justify that sentiment, they must be able to show
that the race was a worthy one. He did not wish to exaggerate
their qualities; he would not point to exceptional examples of
men who had ruled in camps, in cities, and in Parliaments, for
there was no town or county which could not point to such ex-
ceptional instances. Rather they should look at what the race
had done in its general character — at what the average Highlander
could do, or had done, or was likely to do again. The Highlander
only became thoroughly known about 1745, and he must have
lived for a long period pretty much in the state which he then
occupied. There were, perhaps, a good many still living who had
spoken to those who had known people who had taken part in the
'45. It had been his own lot to come into contact with a few old
persons who were familiar with men of that period; and so far as
he could gather, the state of society then was not very different from
what it was within living recollection. No doubt, as Bailie Nicol
Jarvie said, there were in the Highlands " lawless, broken men,
who lived on their chiefs, and were ready to do anything;" but
the great majority, he believed, must have been, on the whole, a
peaceable, orderly, industrious, pastoral and agricultural popula-
tion— a people who obeyed the law and cultivated the land to the
best of their ability, and who above all loved and protected and
helped the poorer members of the community. The Stuarts had
been absent fifty-seven years; almost no man capable of bearing
arms could have known anything about them; and yet a young
man landed in an outlandish place on the West Coast, without
help, apparently without means or money, without anything in his
favour except a principle — and the whole population — those peace-
able herdsmen, and shepherds, and agriculturists — rose in arms,
and staked their whole prosperity in this world on the hazard.
The age of chivalry was said to be long past, but here was an
instance of as real chivalry, as real devotion, as could be found in
any age or country in the world. And he thought, when all the
incidents and accidents of time and circumstances had disappeared
—they had hardly done so yet — and when the events of 'that
period were looked at in the pure light of history, the true worth
of that chivalry would be fully acknowledged and celebrated. He
hoped that when the deeds of that period were sung, they would be
sung in the native language, and in strains worthy of the heroic
time. Later, when the country required the services of stalwart,
brave, and honest soldiers, the Highlands poured forth their sons
in numbers he would be afraid to mention, to fight the nation's
battles. He would not dwell on the military qualities of the race

8 Transactions.

— qualities which they possessed in common with other peoples,
though he believed none ever surpassed them. No regiments in
the world bore prouder banners than did the Highland regiments.
But he would not speak of the two or three hundred men who
carried the heights of Mount St Jean; he would rather for the
present refer to the thousands who served for years in the field and
in quarters. In the records of a dozen regiments there was no
sign of insubordination or disorder; and in one case, perhaps after
twenty years' service, the first man who was convicted of a dishon-
ourable crime was bought out of the regiment by his comrades.
When the regiments were assembled on parade to witness punish-
ment, the commanding officer was known to have ordered the 93d
off the ground, as the sight was unfit for men with characters like
theirs. The characteristic of those Highland soldiers was orderli-
ness, good conduct, the utter want of dishonourable crime. Surely,
then, the language had been rendered illustrious by the deeds of the
men who spoke it. And if the language was worth preserving, he
wished to ask whether the race was not worth preserving too 1 It
was worth their while to consider the circumstances under which
that race grew up and flourished. What enabled them to send out
men not only courageous, stalwart, manly, and independent, but
orderly and God-fearing, in every relation of life 1 Not long ago,
with reference to the question of a disputed march, he had a con-
versation with a very old man, who, in his simple way. drew quite
an Arcadian picture of his early days, as he herded his mother's
cows on the side of a burn, and sat on a stone in the water with
his young companion. " Perhaps," said the old man, as he de-
scribed the scene, " you don't know that it is different now from
what it was then, for then the poorest man had a bit of land." In
those days every man was allied to the soil, and possessed part of it,
on which he reared his cattle and his corn, and lived 011 what he
reared. But great changes had occurred. The potato came, and
enabled people to live on smaller patches of land ; great sheep runs
became common, and the poor people were crowded down to the sea-
shore ; grouse came, deer came, and everything went against the
Highlander. The flats of the straths, where the old race used to
flourish, always in comparative comfort, often in considerable com-
fort, were now waste ; and ruins of bothies were all that remained to
speak of those who had made the Gaelic language illustrious. He
was not prepared to advocate any radical measures, and he had no
desire to say anything offensive ; but he put it to this meeting
whether, while advocating the preservation of the Gaelic language,
they should not also urge upon those whom the Almighty had blessed

Annual Assembly. 9

with large possessions, to make an effort to re-introduce that state
of things in which the true Highlander alone could flourish 1 The
Duke of Sutherland was now, greatly to his credit, doing some-
thing in that way; and, in the words of a man who knew the
Highlands well, he hoped the scheme had not come a day too late
— when there was really no population left to occupy the small
farms thus created. As a gillie or as a shepherd, the Highlander
must decay; the true nature of the man could only come out when
he possessed his own place in his own Highlands, and when,
whether reared in a bothie or in a cottage, he felt himself to be the
independent master of a family.

Mr James Fraser, Glasgow, sang a Gaelic song, Soraidh bhuan
do Chomhail, for which he was heartily encored; and on coming
back he sang, amidst renewed applause, Cabarfeidh.

Rev. Alexander Macgregor, M.A., "West Church, Inverness,
said — Is fhad o'n thubhairt Gaidheal treun agus gaisgeil araidh,
a bha ann roimh so "Is e fear mo chridhe an cruadal" — ach
a'n aite sin, theirinn-sa a nis le mor-fhirinn, " Is e fear mo
chridhe-sa Comunn Gailig Inbhirnis." Tha e ro thaitneach r'a
smuaineachadh agus r'a chluinntinn g'um bheil gach cuis a' soir-
bheachadh leis a' Chomunn so — gu'm bheil a bhuill a' dol a'n lion-
mhorachd — a chumhachd a' dol a'm farsuingeachd, agus a chliu
air a sgaoileadh air feadh na'n cearn' as iomallaich 'san tir. Agus
cha bheag an t-urram a chuireadh air a chomunn air an fheasgar
so fein leo-san uile a ta lathair, chum an deagh-dhurachd fein a
nochdadh, agus chum am mor-speis fein do'n chuideachd a leigeadh
ris, gach aon fa leth ann am briathraibh tla agus tuigseach, agus
ann an oraidibh Ian teas-ghraidh agus deagh-ghean do na h-uile.
Nach cumhachdach an comhnuidh an t-Ollamh Blackie? Nach
dileas, treun 'Bun Lochabuir? Nach ealanta, deas, an caraid daimh-
eil, an t-Uasal Tearlach Friseil Mac-an-Toisich? Ach cha'n eil iii
sam bith anns a' chairdeas agus anns a' chaoimhneas a ta air am
foillseachadh mar so aig an am, ach na ghlan-thoill Comunn Gailig
Inbhirnis gu maith agus gu ro mhaith. Thoill iad e air son na
spairne cruaidh a ta iad 'a deanamh chum na Gailig a neartachadh,
ath-leasachadh, agus a theagasg anns gach uilinn agus oisinn dhe'n
Ghaidhealtachd. An uair tha e dligheach do gach ard agus iosal
aig am bheil spiorad an duthchais 'nan cridhe, mor-thaing a thoirt
do gach ball de'n Chomunn, air son an dian-dhurachd ann a bhi
'cumail suas gach reachd agus cleachd, gach modh agus measarrachd
a bhuineas go na Gaidheil, tha cliu agus buidheachas gu'n choimeas
dligheach gu h-araidh do'n Run-chleireach threun agus thuigseach
aca — Alastair Mac-Coinnich — air son na saoithreach, an eid, agus

10 Transactions.

an dian-dhealais a ta do ghnath air an nochdadh leis, chum a bhi ag
eiridinn agus a' dionadh na Gailig arms gacli sgireachd far am bheil
i 'ga labhairt ! Tha dian-dhuthchas a' deachdadh inntinn an Run-
chleirich le tabhachd do-cheannsachaidh, agus le dealas gu'n choim-
eas aig gacli am, agus is cudthromach na nithe a bheirear gu crich
le fior dhuthchas ! Tha'n sean-f hocal ag radh gu'n " D'theid duth-
chas an aghaidh nan crag," ach cruaidh mar chreig, agus daingeaun
mar " Chlachnacudain," sheas esan an aghaidh na muinntir sin leis
am bu mhiann a' Ghailig oirdheirc e smaladh as, agus a ruagadh
gu'n mhoilie gu'n bhaigh as gach tigh-searmoin, tigh-sgoile, agus
tigh-comhnuidh 'sa Ghaidhealtachd air fad ! Tha deagh f hios gur
e an Run-chleireach a thug bith agus co'-dhealbhadh air thus do'n
Chomunn so, agus a bha riamh o sin a' dol gu dhuian 'ga near-
tachadh. Chum na criche so, rnar an ceudna, tha'n " t-Ard-
Albannach " air mhireadh le tlachd agus toil chum gach cuis adh-
artachadh a bhuineas do shliochd 'nan Garbhchrioch, agus chum an
staid ath-leasachadh ! Cha'n 'eil uin' agam 'san am gu bhi' leudach-
adh air buaidhibh, aois, oirdheirceas, cumhachd, agus co'-dhealbh-
adh na Gailig, ach gu'n abair mi ann a'm briathraibh a' Bhaird
Ghriogairich : —

" Co thairgeadh dhi mi-mhodh,
'S nach cumadh am miagh i 1
'S gur i Ghailig bha sgriobhta,
Air na clachanna criche,
Anns gach ionad dhe'n rioghachd,
Ged' bha i fuidh mhi-ghean,
Tha i nise a' direadh,
'S gu'm mair i gu dilinn,
Mar 'bha i 'sna linntibh o thus !
Mar 'bha i, &c."

Cha'n 'eil uin' agam an nochd gu bhi 'cur an ceill mor-luach na
Gailig mar chainnt a ta air a labhairt leis na muilleanaibh sluaigh
ann an Alba', ann an Eirinn, 'n- America, 'n- Australia, agus ann
an iomadh cearnaidh eile dhe'n t-saoghal, agus mar chainnt a ta air
a searmonachadh ann an tri no ceithir cheud sgireachd air feadh
na Gaidhealtachd againn fein. Tha e, uime sin, an aghaidh
nadair, an aghaidh reusoin, an aghaidh tuigse, agus an aghaidh
fior cheartuis, gu'm biodh a' Ghailig air a druideadh suas ann an
cuil ; seadh, gu'm biodh i air a muchadh, agus air a fogradh air
falbh as na sgoilean againn air feadh na Gaidhealtachd air fad !
Tha gu'n teagamh ioinadh caraid aig a' chanain mhaisich so,

Annual Assembly. 11

cairdean mora, foghluimte, ealanta, agus ullamh gu comlinadli a
dlieanamh leatha, ann an am na h airc a's na h-eigin. Ach mo
chreacli ! tha mar an ceudna iomadh iiamhaid aice, daoirie goil-
eamach, caoin-shuarach, meadh-bhlath, daoine leis an comadh co
dhiubh a bhios a' Ghailig ann no as, ach, ciod as miosa na sin
uile, cha'n eil riaghailtean na rioghachd, no reachdan ura 'na
sgoilean fein, a' toirt misnich, no duals, no luchd-teagaisg seacliad
chum an oigridh arachadh suas ann an eolas air cainnt am mathar
fein. Tha so, gu'n teagamh, cianail. Cha'n 'eil cairdean na
Gailig ag iarruidh gu'm biodh a' chlann air an teagasg an toiseach
arms a' Ghailig 'na h-aonar, ach gu'n toisicheadh iad leis a'
Bheurla, gu'n rachadh iad air an aghaidh leatha, ach, aig an am
cheudna, gu'm ^iodh a' Gbailig air a cleachdadh gach latha.
Seasadh an da chanain taobh ri taobh, faigheadh iad le cheile
ceartas gu'n leth-bhreith, agus an uair a ghlaodhas a' Bheurla a
mach a' beul a' bhrogaich bhig' ud — " House, bridge, hill, horse,
tree, stone," ann an sin, glaodhadh a' Ghailig a mach 'sa mhionaid
sin, " Tigh, drochaid, beinn, each, craobh, clach," mar sin, leughar
agus tuigear an da chainnt comhladh, builichear beannachd air an
obair, giulainear gach ni air aghaidh le ciuineas agus ceartas,
bheirear mor-thoilinntinn do gach Comunn Gaidhealach 'san
rioghachd gu leir, agus cha'n fhaighear " Clachnacudain " air
deireadh 'san iolach-aoibhneis, a thaobh leas aimsireil agus spior-
adail shliochd 'nam beann ! A' Chomuinn ionmhuinn, beannachd
leibh, agus a nis gabhaibh a' chomhairle a thugadh seachad le
seann Bhard a' Chnuic Mhuire, a thubbairt mar a leanas : —

" Cumaibh suas an comunn brathaireil,
'Bh' aig ar sinnsear 'n tir nan ard-bheann,
Cridhe caoimhneil, saoibhear, pairteach,
Lan do dh' aoibhness ' Chlann nan Gaidheal !'

" Sliochd nan curaidh, buadhach, treubhach,
Sheasadh suas an guaillibh cheile;
'S muirneach, smachdail, reachdmhor, eudmhor,
Luchd nam breacaii dathte 'n-fheilidh.

" Dream tha rioghail, dileas, sgairteil,
'N am dol sios le piob fo bhratach ;
'S ard an inntinn, 's cinnteach, beachdail,
Siol na Feinn' nach pill le gealtachd !"

Mr Peter Stewart then danced with spirit " Gillie Callum," for
the neat execution of which he was greatly applauded. Selections

12 Transactions.

of pipe music were next given by Pipe-Majors Maclennan and
Watt, and Macdonald, after which the second part of the pro-
gramme was entered upon. Miss Macleman sang, with great
taste and feeling, " Bonnie Scotland," and was encored.

The Chairman explained that, owing to the illness of a daughter
of the Rev. Mr Stewart's (Nether-Lochaber), he was unable to be
present that evening. He had received a letter from him in
which he expressed his regret at this, but promised to make up for
it by contributing a paper to the next volume of " Transactions."
Mr Hugh Mackay, of Greenock, representing the Greenock
Ossianic Club, had kindly consented to supply his place, and he
would now address them.

Mr Mackay said — I came here as the representative of the
Greenock Ossianic Club. By all right, Inverness is the place from
whence all representations should go forth to Highland lairds and
London lords in reference to the Highlands. With your various
facilities, your geographical position, and, best of all, your in-
habitants being Highlanders, you have every advantage. Now,
if you are going to retain the honour of your ancient town and
of men worthy of the names which you bear, you must, with-
out hesitation or fear, impress your chiefs and landholders with
the duty of re-peopling their lands with the native race, and re-
moving all the barriers and difficulties which may stand between
them and bettering the peasant population. If you do not thus
stand forward, we on the banks of the Clyde will remove your
candlestick out of its place, and take the good, godly, patriotic
work out of your hands, and frame a measure which will
compel the landowners of this country to direct their attention
more to the cultivation and reclamation of the land in their pos-
session than to the rearing of deer and grouse. Then, again, our
chiefs would be valued for their numerous and happy tenantry,
and not for their sheep walks and deer forests, and the tenant's
wealth and happiness would be centred in an affectionate landlord
that would not allow factor or ground officer to do as he pleased;
but to speak to them as a man would do to his friend. Then our
Saxon neighbours would visit us oftener, and in greater numbers
than ever, to breathe the pure air of our Highland hills, and drink
at our fountains and streams; smell the fragrance of our valleys,
and partake of our Scotch cakes and venison, and of the fish of our
sandy bays and mountain streams, all flavoured with the essence
of Highland hospitality. Then our commanders-in-chief will not
have to complain of having nothing better than the refuse of our
cities to fill the ranks of the army, for they will have the best of

Annual Assembly. 13

men, nurtured amid our Highland hills, and filled with the spirit
of their forefathers in genuine Highland schools. Our dress was
proscribed, but it has been restored. Our language has been
voted out of fashion ; but, thanks to Professor Blackie, and to this
and similar glorious Celtic meetings, our language will soon be
restored to us. And these are assurances to us, that if the Gaelic
Society of Inverness is true to itself, to its principles, and to its
country, our land will also soon be restored to us.

Professor Blackie, on rising, was received with cheering fre-
quently renewed. Folding his arms, the Professor addressed his
audience — Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, members of the
Gaelic Society, citizens of Inverness, and big sheep farmers from
all parts of the country, I have now been about forty years prac-
tising occasionally the art of thinking aloud, or thinking on my
legs, and I have never during that time been able to suppress my
repugnance to giving what is called an address. I could give you
a lecture or a sermon. I have preached before, and I hope to
preach again — not certainly in the style you do it in Gaelic — but
yet in a passable way. I could give you a song — a Gaelic song,
too — and if it was not for these reporters, that will not allow a
man to be natural, I might sing you a Gaelic song now. But
I must preserve my dignity before them, and give them nothing
to tell that would not be suitable to the dignity of the Professor
of Greek in the metropolitan city of Scotland. Well, if it was
not for these reporters, I should sing to you " Ho mo Mhairi
lag hack" or " Gum a elan a chi mi" But I have no doubt, if
this movement continues, every Professor in broad Scotland will
be proud to sing Gaelic songs. Ay, and compose Gaelic songs
too. He congratulated them on the revived interest in Celtic
literature, and the prospect of establishing the Celtic Chair. I
certainly, he said, did not hope or believe that in twelve months —
it is not twelve months— that in eight months, we should not only
have laid the base of the cairn, but should actually have raised the
whole cairn — this cairn for the study of Celtic literature, philology,
and song. We have raised it, I say, triumphantly, by the aid of
such as our Chairman, such noblemen as the Duke of Sutherland,
the Duke of Argyll, the Marquis of Bute ; such of our scholars as
Sir William Stirling Maxwell and Lord Neaves; and by the
sympathy expressed by Professors in London, Oxford, and Cam-
bridge ; by the countenance of her Majesty the Queen — who only
lends her gracious support to things worth supporting — and the
cairn only now requires to be topped. Faith removes mountains.
<£ Whatever a man dares, he can do." By the grace of God, I

14 Transactions.

dared to attempt to establish this Chair — 7 dared it, and you
dared it, and we have done it. It is not generally so much a
hostility to what is good that prevents a thing being done, but
ignorance and indifference that requires to be stirred up, and
walked into with swords, and, if necessary, with red-hot pokers,
and bellows to blow up the dying embers. Go to the people, and
you will find them ready to support you, that is, if you have the
right inspiration. There are two classes who wish this Gaelic
language of ours dead. There are those who want the people to
be sent to America ; and those men of science who would have it
dead to-morrow, who have expressed a wish to have it dead, that
they might have its body to cut up and dissect. But even these men
have expressed the feeling that, if it were extinguished to-morrow,
there should be an Academic exposition of the Celtic languages.
They all confess this is the right thing to be done, and it has been
approved of by the highest authority in this country, who never
puts her name to anything that is not noble and worthy of that
exalted name. True, it ought to be studied scientifically, as we
study the skeleton of the Dodo, or any other extinct animal;
but still I think, that a living dog is always better than a dead
lion. I value Gaelic as the language of the Gaelic people. I love
the Gaelic people. They are a people that have performed a noble
part in the history of this country. We Scotch, English-speaking
or Gaelic-speaking, are Gaels. Our very names prove that we are.
And I say that it is a disgrace and a shame to us, inheriting that
blood — the combination of the Celtic fire with the stubbornness
and the sagacity of the Saxon — to say that this Gaelic language
has existed only to be kicked out of the world. I will go a good
deal further than Mr Macandrew. Where is Mr Macandrew? I
say I'll go a good deal further than you ; and maintain that Gaelic
is so rich in its stores of everything that is noble in a literature,
that it not only rewards those who study it, but brings discredit
on those belonging to the country who don't study it. We are
not called upon to prove that it contains a literature like that of
Greece and Rome, but I say to all those who are born in the High-
lands, to all those who breathe the Highland air, there is a litera-
ture of the utmost possible value. It is a good deal more extensive
than that which we call Scottish literature. Our literature consists
of popular songs. Now, I say with perfect honesty, in face of
Professor Black there, or a Professor Blackie — I say that I value
these Scottish songs, that I have got from these Scottish songs
more than I have got from Homer, Aristotle, or Plato; or from
all of them, put together. The Scottish songs are full of wisdom

Annual Assembly. 15

— the wisdom of life, sagacity, humour, pathos ; full of everything
that makes a man a man ; full of everything which constitutes
poetry, true sublime poetry. It has been said that " poetry makes
rich the blood of the world ;" and I say that popular poetry makes
rich the blood of the people. I have great respect for Mr Jolly
and all school inspectors, and schoolmasters, and professors of
course; but there is no book they can put into your hands so good
and useful and inspiring as these songs, which are native to the
atmosphere. And if I and all good Scotchmen rejoice in Scotch
songs, and if all foreigners are delighted to hear Scotch songs, and
if the greatest musical composers have stolen some of their best
musical ideas from Scotch music, and if we are all proud of the
noble inheritance we have received in them — then I say, what
the Scotch song is to me the Gaelic song is to you, and a man
is not true to you if he takes it from you, and you are not true to
yourselves if you allow him to take it. I should like to know what
a Highland schoolmaster gains by going up to Edinburgh and get
ing a smattering of Greek and Latin. You who are ignorant of
these languages think him awfully learned, and no doubt lie thinks
himself so; but he would require to be a thorough Greek and
Latin scholar before he could enjoy the good things which their
poets wrote ; and meantime he is neglecting or despising the
beautiful strains of Alistar Macdonald, Duncan Ban Macintyre,
and those fine poetic things written by nobody or everybody
in the Highlands. You are essentially a lyrical people ; I have
heard a common woman express herself in the language of poetry;
and it is a wretched affectation to stun0 fragments of Greek and
Latin down the throats of Highlanders, and stamp out the Gaelic
which is natural to them — to throw cold water upon all their
noblest aspirations, and cramp them with classical stays, instead
of allowing them to breathe with freedom in the bracing air of
their native mountains. I believe in the people, and in the lan-
guage of the people, and the songs of the people, as the best means
of popular education. Highlanders hear plenty sermons, and ser-
mons are good, but they should have songs too ; and with a sermon
in his right hand, and a song in his left, and a sword where it
ought to be, I will back the Highlander against the whole world.
The value of a literature does not depend upon the bulk of it; if
it did, what value would we set upon the Old Testament '? It
depends upon its intrinsic worth, and here it is the natural pro-
duct of the Highland braes and the Highland heather. I could
sing some of those fine old songs; I read translations of them
before some of the most learned men in Oxford, and there was not
one that did not feel his bosom thrill — yes, even those dignified

16 Transactions.

old square-caps. And I have seen beautiful ladies thrill with
sympathy to the tips of their fingers, when I read some of those
pathetic Highland lamentations. Highland poetry belongs to the
country, and is characteristic of it, just as deerstalking is. Talk
of deerstalkers — they are a most excellent race — and deerstalking
is a sport by which some of our best soldiers were trained. And
where will you find the poetry of the deerstalkers 1 where but in
Duncan Ban? Why should not sportsmen make themselves
familiar with a deerstalker who knew far more about sport than
any Greek or Roman that ever wrote 1 Highland poetry is as
characteristic of the Highlands as the heather is of the hills ; and
though you could remove the heather, and plant the soil with
English roses, I would still say, give me back iny heather. If
you were to tell me to-morrow that you were to build me a beauti-
ful cottage in the midst of Kew Gardens, on the banks of the
Thames, and plant it all round with rare exotics, I would say,
Let me lie upon a Highland brae, and keep your garden to your-
self. That is human nature. Your language is yours in the
same way that your mother is yours. There may be many
handsomer women in the country, but only one woman who is
my mother — who gave me milk and blood, and whom I claim as
the noblest among women. A.nd though my mother should turn
old and wrinkled, and sit a dry grannie beside the smoky ingle,
1 would still sit and hear her old stories and her wise saws, and I
would not kick her into the grave because she is going to die. We
must all die some time, but why should we kick an old friend — our
old Gaelic tongue — into the grave? The Professor went on to say
that the moment Gaelic died, the Highlander died, for the one
could not subsist without the other. Referring to the difficulties
of the Gaelic language, he admitted it had its own peculiarities,
and he had been speaking to a landed proprietor near Oban the
other day, who said he had been studying it for twenty-five years,
and had not made it out yet. But it was not a bridge that could
not be passed ; like the pons asinorum, it could be passed by all
but asses. All languages had their difficulties. The sight of the
Greek alphabet was enough almost to make some ladies faint;
irregular verbs were an immense difficulty; and the gender of
nouns in German was very hard to master. But Gaelic could be
learned, and he told them the way to acquire it —by asking the
names of common objects, and repeating them till they were firmly
fixed in the mind. He could himself read Gaelic quite easily ; and
he could have learned fhe whole language in six months, if he had
devoted himself to it with determination. He advised them to read
the books issued by old Norman Macleod, brimful of character and

Annual Assembly. 17

humour ; and, in conclusion, he again urged them to preserve the
Gaelic language and literature, so far as that could be done in a
natural way. He did not ask any man to go out of his way to
bolster it up. Those who had it might neglect it, and from love
of foreign affectation, let it die; but learned men in Berlin, in
Dresden, in Leipzig, in Cambridge, and in Oxford would study
the language, and would wonder how the people who possessed it
should trample it under their feet.

The rest of the entertainment consisted of singing and pipe-
playing. Miss Maclernan, who presided at the piano, sang in her
charming style several Scotch songs, for which she was repeatedly
encored; and the three pipers — Pipe-Major Maclennan, Pipe-Major
James Watt, and Macdonald — discoursed upon the national instru-
ment.

Mr Fraser, Glasgow, was again called upon for a Gaelic song,
and gave " Mairi Bhan Og," by Duncan Ban Macintyre, which
was heartily applauded. At the close,

Professor Black, of Aberdeen, proposed a vote of thanks to the
Chairman. He expressed his belief that, by meetings of this kind,
and by petitions such as that sent from Gairloch, the Highland
people would succeed in obtaining Gaelic teaching. He' ventured
to express a doubt if the Chairman was correct in saying that the
Government was averse to the teaching of Gaelic in Highland
schools, and he hoped that they were not. He believed they re-
quired only to be educated, and to be told of a means .whereby it
could be best accomplished. Success, then, would entirely depend
upon two conditions. The first was that the people of the High-
lands should suggest a specific plan to the Government — a fair and
reasonable plan, not one that would propose the teaching of Gaelic
to the exclusion of all other subjects. The second was that the
claim would be thoroughly backed up — outside the House of Com-
mons by a united voice, and inside by their Members of Parlia-
ment.

The Chairman briefly replied, and having paid a warm compli-
ment to the exertions of Mr Alex. Mackenzie, the secretary of the
Society, and to the committee, for the successful manner in which
they had arranged the present meeting, also to the pipers, dancers,
singers, and speakers, and to Miss Maclernan for presiding at the
pianoforte, proposed a vote of thanks to them all, which was
heartily accorded. After the singing of " 'Dhia Gleidh Bhan-righ,"
he declared the assembly at a close.

The speakers were heartily applauded throughout, and the
meeting was a great success in every respect.

2

18 Transactions.

15TH SEPTEMBER 1875.

A special meeting of the Society was held this evening, at
which it was unanimously agreed to record the thanks of the
Society to the ladies and gentlemen who gratuitously rendered their
services at the annual assembly in July. Mr Murdoch, on behalf of
Mr Whyte, Temperance Hotel, Fort-William, handed the librarian
a copy of an old edition of the Psalms of David. A committee was
appointed to appeal to authors and the public generally for books
for the library of the Society. The following new members were
elected : — Mr C. S. Jerram, M.A., Windlesham, Surrey (honor-
ary); Mrs Macfarlane, Denny, Stirling; Miss Macpherson, do.,
do.; Surgeon-Major General W. A. Mackinnon, C.B.,Aldershot ;
Rev. John S. Mackay, J.P., the Manse, Poolewe ; Rev. Dr Mac-
kenzie, Silverwells, Inverness ; Dr George Duncan, Conchra,
Lochalsh; Mr C. Livingston, Fort- William ; Mr A. Burgess,
Caledonian Bank, Gairloch ; Mr Roderick Macrae, Island of Eigg ;
Mr Simon Chisholm, Flowerdale, Gairloch ; Mr Thomas Sinton,
Nuide, Kingussie (all ordinary members); and Messrs Alexander
Ross and John Mackintosh, 57 High Street, Inverness (both ap-
prentice members).

HTH OCTOBER 1875.

At the meeting on this date, Mr James Eraser, manufacturer,
41 North Albion Street, Glasgow, presented the Society, through
the Secretary, with a copy of the " History of the Scottish Metrical
Psalms," by the Rev. J. W. Meeken. The Secretary at the same
time presented a copy of Part I. of the "Kenlochewe Bard's
Poems." In consequence of other engagements, Mr Alexander
Mackenzie resigned the office of Secretary, which he held since the
commencement of the year. The resignation was accepted, and a
committee appointed to secure a suitable successor.

29TH OCTOBER 1875.

At this meeting the following new members were elected : —
Mr Evan Macdonald, Banker, Buckie ; the Rev. James Grant,
the Manse, Ullapool ; Mr W. C. Joass, Architect, Dingwall ;
and Mr James Macpherson, 38 Rose Street, Inverness. Further
arrangements were made for the election of a new Secretary.

Fionnladh Choinneachain. 19

18TH NOVEMBER 1875.

At this meeting a letter was read from Mr G. J. Campbell,
resigning office as Honorary Secretary, in consequence of his
leaving Inverness. Mr Campbell's resignation was accepted, and
Mr Wm. Mackay, Solicitor, appointed Honorary Secratary ad
interim.

25TH NOVEMBER 1875.

At this meeting further arrangements were made with the view
of electing a secretary.

2D DECEMBER 1875.

At this meeting, Mr Mackay, the Honorary Secretary, reported
that, in compliance with the instructions of former meetings, he
negotiated with Mr William Mackenzie, Free Press reporter,
Inverness, anent the office of Secretary, and that Mr Mackenzie
had consented to act on the terms proposed. Mr Mackenzie was
accordingly elected unanimously Secretary to the Society. The
meeting then set to make arrangements for the annual supper of
the Society.

9TH DECEMBER 1875.

On this evening the Secretary, on behalf of Mr A. A. Car-
michael, Benbecula, read the following sgeulachd : —

FIONNLADH CHOINNEACHAIN, MAC NA
BANTRAICH.

[Sgialaiche, Domhnul Mac Cuithein, coitear, Fearann-an-lethe,
faisg air Carbost, 'san Eilean Sgitheanach.]

Bha fear ann roimhe so ris an abairte Fionnladh Choinneach-
ain, mac na Bantraich. Bha e na Shealgair, agus bha e fhein agus
a phiuthar a' ga'ail mu cheile. Bha iad a' tamh ann am bothan
beag fasaich, fad o laimh am measg nam beann, agus cha robh
neach a' fuireach comhla riuth ach iad fhein. Bhiodh Fionnladh

20 Transactions.

a' falbli tra sa' mhaduin do'n bheinn sheilg ; agus an uair a dh*
fhalbhadh e theireadh e r'a phiuthair " Na fosgail uinneag na
h-airde tuath, 's na leig an tein' as." " Cha'n fhosgail mi uinneag,
's cha duin mi uinneag, 's cha leig mi 'n tein' as" theireadh a
phiuthar. Ach 's e bh'ann gach ni shireadh a brathair oirre gim a
dheanadh dheanadh ise, agus an rud a dh'iarradh e oirre dhianadh
cha dianadh i. Dh'fhosgaileadh i uinneag na h-airde deas, agus
dhuineadh i uinneag na h-airde tuath, agus leigeadh i an tein' as
air chinn a brathair. Cha robh a' phiuthar agus a brathair idir a'
riarachadh a cheile.

Thog Fionnladh air la bha sin agus falbhar mar gu'm bitheadh
e 'dol bho'n bhaile. Bha e 'falbh agus a' ga'ail seallaidh uaith a's
thuige, agus faiceas bo than beag bochd faisg air ceum an rath aid far
nach fac e bothan roimhe riamh. Chuir am bothan neonachas air
agus gabhar ga ionnsuidh. Bha seann bhoirioimach air uiiar a'
bhothain agus cha robh is taigh ach i fhein. Shir i air Fionn-
ladh suidhe 'dheanadh, agus shuidh e. " Dean suidhe a mhic
na bantraich" ors a chailleach. "Is math a's aithne dhomh do
charamh agus do chor. 'S ann agad a tha 'n droch phiuthar a tha
deonach cur as duit." " Am bheil?" ors esan. " Tha" ors a chaill-
each "agus mar chomharradh gu bheil, 'n uair a theid thu dhach-
aidh a nochd bithidh leaba lair luachair deanta tapbh an tein' aice
los thusa shuidhe oirre. Ach na suidh thus idir air an leaba lair
luachair so, oir tha fuamhair fo'n luachair agus claidheamh geur
gorm aige 'na laimh gus do mharbhadh. Ach dian thusa 'mhic na
bantraich mar a shireas mis ort agus cha'n eagal duit," agus thug
cailleach a' bhothain bhig sebladh no dha do mhac na bantraich mar
a dhianadh e 'n uair a reachadh e dhachaidh.

Thill Fionnladh dachaidh agus choinnich a' phiuthar anns an
dorus e le failte 's le furan. " A ghaoil 's mise ' rinn an t-socair
dhuit a' nochd," ors ise, " gus thu fhein a' leigeil a d' shineadh
air, 'n uair a ghabhas tu do dhinneir gus an tig am duit dol a
laidhe. Binn mi leaba shocrach luachair duit, agus a ghaoil 's i
tha socair." Cha do leig Fionnladh dad air ach ghabh e staigh.
Bha e na chleachdadh aige bhi nitheadh a chasan a chuile h-oidhche
mu'n reacliadh. e 'laidhe ; agus eirear agus thugar coire goileach
uisge far an teine, agus cuirear sid na shuidhe air an leaba luachair
a rinn a phiuthar dha, agus cha do shuidh e fhein idir oirre. A
chiad chnaimli dheth an d' thug e 'n fheoil agus e aig a dhinneir
thilg e sid a null thun nan con air an leaba Juachair. Leum
na tri choin mhora air an leaba luachair an deigh a' chnaimh
agus leum iad air a cheile air son a' chnaimh. Agus cha luaithe
thoisich na coin mhora ri sabaid na chuir iad car dhe'n choire

Fionnladh Cholnneachain. 21

agus dhoirt iad an t-uisge goileach. Co leum a mach bho'n leaba
luachair ach gu'm b'e am fuamhaire a' sgriachail, 's a' sgreadail, 's
a' raoiceil, agus a mach an dorus a ghabh e, agus mach an dorus
as a dheigh ghabh piuthar Fhionnlaidh, nighean na bantraich, agus
thug iad uamh mhor nam fuathairean orra.

Bha Fionnla aig an taigh leis fhein, agus a chridhe air chrith
leis an eagal, agus e gun f hios aige co mhionaid a dh-fhaodadh na
fuathairean tighinn air a mhuin agus a inharbhadh

'Nuair a chaidh am fuathair dachaidh agus a chunnaic na fuath-
airean eile loisgt' e, leum am fuathair og air a' chois agus thuirt
e, "'S mi fhein a theid a thoirt a mach torachd mo bhrathar." " Cha
tu theid ann ach mis' " ors am fuathaire mor fhein. " Is e theid
ann mi f hein," ors' a chailleach ghara-ghlas (gharbh-ghlas). " U
cha'n e theid ann ach mise," ors' am fuamhair og agus e leum a
mach dorus na h-uamh.

Bha Fionnla a' feitheamh a bhais aig an taigh na 'bhothan beag
fhein agus chual e sin a tighinn firream agus farram agus fuaim
tairneanaich ; clacha beaga dol an iochdar, 's clacha mora 'dol an
uachhdar, 'sam poll ga shadradh 's na speura!

Co bha so ach am fuathair og, brathair an fhuathair loisgte,
's e tighinn a thoirt a mach torachd a bhrathar. " Fith ! foth !
fuagaire ! (nasal) tha barradh (*? baladh) an arrabhalaiach an so.
Leig a staigh mi 'mhic na bantraich," agus leis a sin thilg e 'n dorus
a staigh roimhe mar gu'm be duileag chail e.

Chuir Fionnla Choinneachain an da pheileir a bh' aige 'sa ghunna
agus leig e sid ris an fhuathaire, ach cha d'rinn sin an gnothach
air. Leum an sin na tri choin mhora na charamh agus riab, a 's
dhochain iad e, agus eadar iad fhein 'us Fionnla mharbh iad am
fuathair. Thug an sin Fionnla na coig cinn, na coig mill, 's na coig
muineil bhar an fhuathaire agus cheangail e iad air gad. Bha oil It
air Fionnla agus cha do charaich e mach as an taigh an oiche sin
tuille. Ach mu b'f hada bha'n la gun tighinn cha b'fhaide na sin
bha Fionnla gun fbalbh chum cailleach a' bhothain bhig. Thug e
muillionn (? buillionn) chruinneachd agus stopa fion g'a h-ionnsuidh,
ni a chord gu math rithe, agus cinn agus mill agus muineil an
fhuathaire.

" Bhuil mata a lamh threun 'ciamar a dh'eirich dhuit an raoir?"
ors a chailleach ri Fionnla. Dh'innis e dhi mar a thachair dha,
agus gur h-iad na coin a chuir crioch air an fhuathaire.

" Tha feum air na coin fhein," ars a' chailleach, " ach cha
tainig am feum orra fhathast."

Bha Fionnla cho siobhalta modhail ris a' chaillich agus a b*
urrainn e, agus bha e fhein agus ise 'n cairdeas math. Thainig e

Transactions.

sin dachaidh ach mu thainig cha b'ann gii fois. Thainig an oidhche
acli mu thainig cha b'fhada gus an cual e tighinn chum dorus a
bhothain, firream agus farram agus fuaim tairneaiiaich, clacha beaga
dol an iochdar, 's clacha mora dol an uachdar, a' s poll ga smuidreadh
's na speuran. " Thomh ! thomh ! uagaraiche ! tha boladh an
arrabhalaich a staigh a so — Leig a staigh mi mhic na bantraich —
Ged a mharbh thu mo mhac an raoir cha mharbh thu mise nochd,"
agus leis a sin thilg e 'n dorus a staigh roimhe air an urlar agus
chrionaich an taigh agus chrionaich am fear a bha a staigh, agus
shaoil leis gu'n robh an taigh a nuas air a mhuin.

Chuir an sealgair an sin an da pheileir 'sa ghunna agus loisg e
sid air an f huathair ach cha tug e deargadh air. Chuir e sin a
chlaidheamb ann agus cha mho rinn sin gnothach air, ach leum na
tri choin mhora na bhad agus eatorra chuir iad as da.

Thug a sin an sealgair na coig cinn, na coig mill, agus na coig
muineil bhar an fhuathaire mhoir agus thug e leis air a mhuin iad
chum na caillich, agus muillionn chruinneachd agus stopa fion na
laimh.

"A. lamb thapaidh," ars' a chailleach 'nuair thainig Fionnla
dhachaidh thuice, "ciamar a dh'eirich dhuit an raoir 1 " "Dh'eirich
gu math," ors' esan; "tha crioch air an dithis ud co dhiu. Ach 's e
na coin a chuir crioch air an fhear so cuideachd." "'S math a
fhuaras thu a threin thapaidh agus is math a fhuaras na coin
mhora, agus bha feum orra ach cha taiiiig am feum idir fhathast.
' S ann an nochd tha an cliu r'a dhearbhadh agad uile. Tha chailleach
gharaghlas fhein a tighinn an nochd a thoirt a mach torachd a fir
agus a mic ( 1 a dithis mhac). Tha i cho uamhasach 'sgu bheil
fiacaill aice na brod rothaid (? rathaid) air son a bhi reiteach na
slighe dhi 'nuair a bhios i siubhal, agus fiacaill eile na brod griasaich
air son reiteach an teine 'n uair a bhios i ga h-earraiiieadh fhein
ris a bhlaths. Thig i nochd far am bheil thu ann am min mhodh-
alachd 's an ciuin ceanalas agus iarraidh i ort a leigeil is taigh.
Tha i an run do bheatha thoirt dhiot. Ach dian thusa mar a
shireas mis' ort agus cha 'n eagal dhuit " agus dhinnis i dha mar
a glmathaicheadh se e fhein an deigh dol dachaidh.

Thainig mac na bantraich dhachaidh g'a bhothan bochd fhein
agus O ! bha eagal gun chiall air. Thuit an oidhche 's mu thuit
thainig a' chailleach gharaghlas thun dorus bothan mhic na ban-
traich gu ciuin foi'eachail foi'idneachail, agus shir i ah- mac na ban-
traich a leigeil is taigh. " Leigidh," ors esan, " mu gheallas tu
gu'm bi thu modhail gu maduinn 's nach cuir thu dragh ormsa."
";U cha chuir mi car dhiom," ors ise, " 's leig is taigh mi," agus
leig Fionuladh is taigh a' chailleach gharaghlas.

Fionnladh Choinneachain. 23

Shuidh a' chailleach gharraghlas mhor air taobh shuas an teine,
agus shuidh an sealgair air taobh shios an teine. Cha b'f hada mar
sin gus an d'eirich a' chailleach agus shuidh i air taobh thall an teine
agus dh'eirich Fionnladh ('s bha'n t-am aige) 's shuidh e air taobh bhos
an teine. Bha na tri choin mhora feadh an taigh agus thuirt a*
chailleach cholgail gharraghlas ri Fionnladh — '" Eirich a mhic na
bantraich agus cuir ial air do chuid chon." " U cha dian na coin
blasad coire," ors eise. " U feumaidh tu 'n cea'al co-dhiu," ors ise,
" Cha'n eil sian agam leis an cea'ail mi iad," ors an sealgair.
" Bheir mi f hein dhuit tri riobaine rbbach ruadha far braigh mo
chinn phiollaich pheallaich a ghleidheadh an long mhor air a h-
acair fad nan seachd bliadhna." Thug i sid dha agus chuir eise
na tri rbineagan riobacha ruadha, 'na phoca an aite an cur air na
coin agus thug e air na coin laidhe ann an cuil mu achanan (? amh
achan) a cheile mar air lothain.

" An do cheangail thu na coin a mhic na bantraich 1 " orsa
chailleach gharaghlas. " Cheangail" orsa mac na bantraich, " nach
eil thu ga'm faicinn ceangailte thall 'sa chuil *? " Shuidh iad a sin a
sios aig taobh an teine— mar a bha iad roimhe — mac na bantraich
air an dara taobh agus a' chailleach gharaghlas air an taobh eile.

" Cha chreid mi fhe' a' chailleach nach eil thu 'fas mor" ors
mac na bantraich. " 'TJ cha 'n eil a ghraidh" ors ise ; " cha 'n eil
ann ach m' iteagan a's m' oiteagan ag eiridh ris a* ghealbhan."
Tiota beag an deigh sin thuirt an sealgair ris a' chaillich, " Gu
dearbh a chailleach cha chreid mi nach eil thu 'fas mor." "Aobh
cha'n eil" ors ise ; " a bheil ann a mhacain ach m' iteagan a's
m' oiteagan a' togail ris a' ghealbhan 1" An ceann greis an
deigh sin thuirt eise rist — " Tha thu 'fas mor co-dhiu a chailleach,
gabh gu math no gu h-olc e." " Tha mi 'fas cho mor a mhic na
bantraich 's ge do mharbh thu le d' charachd 's le d' sheoltachd m'
f hear an raoir 's mo mhac air a mhor raoir gu'm marbh mise thus an
nochd" agus leum a' chailleach gharaghlas air a bonnaibh agus
chrionaich an taigh fo 'casan, agus leum mac na bantraich air a
bhonnaibh cuideachd 's mar h-e bu luaithe cha 'n e dad bu
mhaille. Chaidh iad a sin am badaibh a cheile 's ghabh iad a
mach an dorus gu taobh a muigh an taighe. Agus leum na tri
choin mhora mach as an deigh. Shin iad an sin air a cheile —
Fionnla Choinneachain mac na bantraich, agus a Chailleach Ghara
ghlas, bean an fhuamhaire mhoir agus mathair nam fuamh-
airean oga, 's mo chreach bi sin a charrachd! Chuireadh iad toin-
neadh thall a's car a bhos dhiubh, liib shios a's laidhe shuas (1 orra)
a's threo'adh iad an gar'alach cruaidh-ghlas le'n casan mar a
mhachair mhin bhog, a's dhianadh iad a bhogain an aodann gach

24 Transactions.

cruaidh chreagain ; 'n uair bu lagha bhitlieadh iad fotha bhitheadh
iad fotha gii'n gluinean 's an uair bu mhutha bhitheadh. iad fotha
bhitheadh iad fotha gu'n suilean !

Chuimhnich mac na bantraich air f hein 's air a dhaimh 's air a
dhaoine agus smaoinich e aige fhein gu'n robh e fad o charaid agus
faisg air a namhaid agus chuir e 'n car sunntach siubhlach
suigeartach dheth agus chuir e chailleach gharaghlas air a druime
direach, agus bhrist e asna foipe 's gairdean os a cionn !

" Leig air mo chois mi mhic na bantraich " ars a' chailleach.
" Cha leig" ars eise, "gus an innis thu dhomh gu de d'eirig."
" Tha trong oir agus trong airgid agam anns an uaimh agus is
leat iad a mhic na bantraich."

" U chailleach 's Horn fhein sin co dhiu; ciod e d'eirig?" " Tha
trong Ian do bhraisdeachan 6ir agus trong eile Ian bhraisdeachan
airgid a bha aig tighearnan a's baintighearnan agus 's leat iad a
mhic na bantraich." " U chailleach 's liom fhein sin. — Gu de
d'eirig 1 " " Tha anns an uaimh uaireadair oir a bh'aig mac righ
Torra-fo-thuinn agus ainm oirre, agus fain oir a bh' aig nighean
righ Torra-fo-thuinn agus a h-ainm air agus is leat iad a mhic na
bantraich 's leig air mo chois mi."

" A chailleach gharraghlas 's liom fhein iad sin co dhiu — de
d'eirig ? "

"Tha claidheamh oir agam anns an uaimh agus cha do nochdadh
ri duine no ri biast riamh e air nach d'rinn e gnothach. 'S leat
e mhic na bantraich 's leig liom eiridh " " 'S liom fhein an claidh-
eamh 6ir co-dhiu" ors eise — "gu de d'eirig a chailleach?" "Tha
m'eirig mata, agus is cruaidh e, da shlait a bh'anns an uaimh agus
ma bhuaileas tu buille am bad 'sam bith dhe'n t-saoghal air cara
creige, fasaidh an cara (i.e., caragh) na dhuine, agus mu chuireas
tu an claidheamh oir an laimh an duine so cha'n eil duine fo'n
ghrein a sheasas roimhe. Agus mu bhuaileas tu buille leis an
t-slait eile air an duine so fasaidh e na chara creige mar bha e roimhe.
Is leat mo dha shlataig charach dhuibh agus leig air mo chois mi a
mhic na bantraich."

" Is learn fein do dha shlataig charach, dhrui'each, codhiu, a
chailleach ghara-ghlas. Ciod e d'eirig?" — "Aobh ! aobh! a mhacain
ghradhaich, cha'n eil an corr agamsa dhuit," ors ise.

Leag an sin an sealgair agus na tri choin mhora anns a' chaillich
ghara-ghlais; agus mharbh iad i, agus cha d'fhag iad sgrid innte.
Fhuair e sin brd, agus thug e 'n da bhrod fiacail as a' chaillich,
agus thomhais e iad agus bha coig laimh-choille air fad agus tr
laimh-choille mu'n cuairt anns gach te dhiubh.

Tbog Fionnla air, agus rainig e bothan beag cailleach na faos-

Fionnladh Ghoinneachain. 25

nachd, agus thug e leis an da bhrod fiacail a thug e a beul na
caillich-ghara-ghlais. "An tainig thu, a lamh-threun, 'sa laoich
thapaidh?" ors a chailleach.

"Thainig mi" ors esan, "agus 's e sin fhein uile e." "Agus
cia mar a tha thu, no cia mar a dh'eirich dhuit an raoir?" ors ise.
"Tha mi beo, a 7s cha 'n eil an corr ann; ach dh'eirich gu math
dhomh ann a' sin. — tha crioch air a ghraisg ud co-dhiu. Chuir mi
fhein is mo choin crioch air a chaillich-ghara-ghlais, agus thug mi
na brod fiacail aice thugad fhein," 's e g'an tilgeil air an lar g'a
h-ionnsuidh. "Faodaidh tu fhein, s' mi fhein a bhi doigheil gu
brach. Tha storas a's ionmhas riomhach, a's seudan gun chiall
anns an uaimh; ach ciamar a gheibhear thuice — cha'n fhios
domh." "Moire! cha'n fhios dhomhsa ni 's mo na thu fhein"
ors a' chailleach, "ach theid mi fhein, 's mo dhalta leat a' nochd,
agus cuidichidh sinn thu, 's cha chreid mi nach toir sinn buaidh.
Bheir mi fhein Horn mo shlacan druidheachd, agus ma dh'fhairt-
licheas gach rud eile oirnn, cha 't fhairtlich sin oirnn co-dhiu."

Thog iad an sin orra — mac na bantraich, a' chailleach bheag,
leth-shuileach, chiarr-ghlas, agus a dalta mheal-shuileach, mhin-
gheal, agus rainig iad bial uamh nam fuamhairean. Bhuain iad
seachd saic de fhraoch glas, agus thug iad sud gu beul na h-uaimh,
agus chuir iad teine ris na seachd saic f hraoich aig beul na h-uaimh,
gus am fuamhair a bha staigh a thachdadh le toit agus a leonadh le
deathach. Chuireadh teine ris an triasg ghlas agus lionadh an
uamh le deathach. Bha am fuamhaire a' seidil, agus an uair a
thairneadh e 'anail bheireadh e staigh na clachan a bha 'm beul na
h-uamh j agus an uair a sheideadh e 'anail chuireadh e 'n teine 's
an triasg 's na clachan 'nan smuidreach 's an adhar !

Chunnaig iad an sin fairreadh a' tighinn air cinn an fhuamh-
aire agus thuirt mac na bantraich gu'n loisgeadh e air an fhuamh-
air. "Cha loisg !" ors a' chailleach, "cha deanadh sin ach an
dearg chaothach uile 'chuir air, agus cha dean na coin feum dhuit
ann a so a measg an teine. Leig leis, dh'fhiach am faigh mi fein
cothram air le m' shlacan beag carach ciar, agus mu gheibh cha'n
fhag mi sgrid ann leis an aon chlibheig ; ach mar a faigh, agus
gu'm faigh esan clibheag a thoirt dhomhsa leis a' chlaidheamh,
liobhaidh, loinneireach lia-ghlas a ta na lamh, ni e cnap creadha
dhiom."

Shin am fuamhair a mach air bial na h-uamh agus ma shin,
cha bu luaithe a shin, na shin a' chailleach a lamh, agus thugar a'
clibheig chnaparra chruaidh sin da 's a cheann leis an t-slacan-
druidheachd aice ; agus cha d'fhag i sgrid ann ! Thainig boills-
geadh soluis, agus chunnaig an sealgair a phiuthar shuas an ceann
eile na h-uamh, agus loisg e oirre, agus mharbh e L

26 Transactions.

Thug an sealgair an sin na coig cinn, na coig mill, 's na coig
muineil far an fhuamhaire agus cheaiigail e iad air gad "A lamh
thapaidh, 's a threun ghaisgeich," ors a chailleach " is tu rinn an
gniomh gaisgeil nach d'rinn fear romhad riamh, agus bithidh a
bhlath 'sa bhuil ortsa mu ghabhas tu mo chomhairle-sa." " U,
gabhaidh mise do chomhaiiie, bhean, 's mi a ghabhas, agus a's
ann domh a's fhiach. Is tu a chuir a chuile sceim (scheme) a
bha nam' cheann ann, agus mar bhith thu, a's cinnteach gu 'n robh
mise am bhuta marbh aig a ghraisg ud. Bithidh fois aig a chuid
so dhe'n t-saoghal tuille bho'n fhuaradh cur as daibh so."

Thog a sin Fionnla, a chailleach, agus a dalta leo gach sian
agus seun, or agus airgiod, agus gach luachmhoireachd eile a bha 'san
uamh, agus thug iad leo iad gu bothan na caillich. Fhuair Fionnla
an da shlataig charraigich, dhubh, chiar a bha aig a' chaillich gharra-
ghlais, agus thug e leis 'na laimh iad, agus bha e gle mhiaghail umpa.
Air an rathad bhuail e cara cloiche le te de na slatan, agus dh'f has
an cara na dhuine. Chuir e sin an claidheamh bir an laimh an
duine so agus cha'n f haca suil riamh gaisgeach bu sgiamhaiche na e
agus ged thigeadh coig mile fear fo'n armachd cheannsaicheadh e uile
iad. Bhuail Fionnla an sin strac de 'n t-slataig eile air gaisgeach
na cara, agus am priobadh na sula bha e na chara glas mar bha e
roimhe.

"Ciod tha so? — 'Se tha so gniomh fuathasach" orsa Fionnla.
"U, 's e" ors a' chailleach; "cha robh a leithid so ann roimhe
riamh."

Rainig iad an sin taigh na caillich for an d'fhuirich Fionnladh
an oidhche sin.

Mochra maduinn an lai-na-mhaireach thog e air agus falbhar gu
taigh an righ. Thug e leis cinn, a's mill, a's muineil nam fuamh-
airean agus uaireadair oir a's braisdeachan 'us faineachain mic
agus nighinn an righ. Mas d'f halbh e thuirt a' chailleach ris, " So
deise 's cuiridh tu umad i," agus chuir e uime 'n deise. " Nis
cha chuir thu dhiot an deise gus an till thu air ais thugamsa."
Sgriobh an sin a' chailleach air cul mac na bantraich gu'm be so
am fear a mharbh am fuamhaire mor gun dochas agus a dhithis
mhac agus a' chailleach ghara-ghlas. Cha robh sion fios aig
Fionnla gu'n do sgriobh a chailleach air a chulthaobh. Ghabh e
air aghart air a thuras, agus rainig e baile mbr an righ, agus cha
robh neach a bha ga fhaicinn nach robh a' sealltainn air an
sgriobhadh a bha air a chulthaobh agus ga 'leughadh. Bha §o a'
cur ioghnadh air Fionnla, ach cha bhristeadh e air a ghealladh
do'n chaillich, 's cha shealladh e air cul na deise feuch ciod a bha
daoine faicinn oirre. Rainig e taigh an righ augs dh'fheoraich e
'n robh duine teaghlaich aig an righ, agus thuirteadh ris gu'n robh

Fionnladh Choinneachain. 27

aon nighean aige, gu'n do mharbh na fuamhairean nighean eile leis
agus a mhac.

Thainig an sin nighean an righ thun an doruis agus thug
Fionnla dhi uaireadair agus braisdeachan agus faineachan a
brathar agus a peathar. Thill nighean an righ leis na rudan so
far an robh a h-athair agus a mathair na'n suidhe aig taobh an
teine agus thug i dhaibh iad. Lion luchd dheur suilean an righ
agus na banrigh 'n uair a chunnaig iad seudan am mic agus an
nighean. Thainig iad an sin a mach far an robh Fionnla agus
shir iad air tighinn a staigh, ach cha tigeadh e. Rug an sin an
righ air an dara laimh, agus a bhanrigh air an laimh eile aig
Fionnla gus a tharruing a staigh a dheoin no dhaineoin ach cha
reachadh alt dhe a staigh. " Mbran taing dhuibh," orsa Fionnla,
" air son m' iarraidh a staigh, ach cha teid mi a staigh idir,
le'r cead. Tha bbid agus barantas ormsa nach dian mi ach mar a
dh'iarradh orm, agus cha bhrist mi mo bhbid no mo bharantas air
son neach a chunna mi riamh." " Thig a staigh," ors an righ,
" agus tha aon nighean agam fhin, agus gu dearbh mu chbrdas
thu fhein agus ise ri cheile bithidh mise debiiach a toirt dhuit,
agus bheir mi dhuit leth mo chuid fad 's is beb mi, agus an
leth eile 'n la 's bas dhomh." " O, gabhaibh mo leisgeal an trath
so ; tha cabhaig mhbr orm gus mo bhbid a chomh lionadh, agus
cha 'n urrainn mi dol a staigh gus an tig mi rithisd. Mbran,
mbran taing dhuibh." Thionndaidh Fionnla a chuloabh ris an
righ agus thug e suil uaithe agus chunnaig e clach bhiorach ghlas.
Ghabh e null far an robh a' chlach, agus bhuail e 'n t-slatag charach
dhuibh air a chara chloiche, agus leum an cara-glas cloiche na
bheb-dhuine sgairteal am fianuis an righ agus an t-sluaigh.
Chuir e an sin an claidheamh bir 'na laimh agus chuireadh coltas a'
ghaisgeich crith air cbig mile marc-shluagh fo'n armachd. Thug
e sin strachd leis an t-slatag eile dha '11 ghaisgeach agus leum an
gaisgeach na chara glas cloiche mar a bha e roimh. Bha 'n sluagh
uile air an lionadh le ioghnadh, agus na'm measg uile cha robh
aon bu lionta le ioghnadh na 'n righ. " O, ciod e, ciod e so," ors an
righ. " Cha 'n fhaca mi leithid so riamh roimhe ; agus cha'n eil mi
'n duil gu 'm faic na dheigh." Dh' innis an sin mac na bantrich
dha'n righ mu dheighinn nan slatag, agus feum nan slatag, agus
far an d'f huair e iad — ni a chuir ioghnadh gun chiall air an righ.
Thill an sin Fionnla dhachaidh gu bothan beag cailleachag na
fasaich.

Chuir an righ cosruith a's eachruith mach feadh fad agus far-
suinneachd a rioghachd air toir mac na bantraich, ach cha chual
iad so sgial air, agus thill iad dachaidh mar a dh'f halbh iad.

28 Transactions.

Phbs an sin Fionnla agus dalta na caillich. Bha triuir nighean
agus triuir ghillean aca. Chaochail a' chailleach, agus goirid an
deigh sin, chaochail a dalta. Bha Fionnla na cheannaiche mbr agus
bathar aige de gach sebrsa air an smaoinicheadh duine. Ach an
uair a chaochail a' chailleach agus a dalta, chrion ceannachd mac
na bantraich agus dh'fhalbh e gu neoni, agus mu dheireadh chaill
e chiaile blasad riarah a bha aige ris an t-saoghal.

An uair a chaill Fionnla Choinneachain a chuile sian a bh'aige,
smaoinich e aige f hein gu'r h-ann a reachadh e thun taigh an righ,
fiach ciod e bu chor dhaibh an sin. Cha robh sian an t-saoghal
aige de na bh'aige roimhe ach an deise 'thug a' chailleach, niuime
mhna, dha, agus an da shlataig a bha aig a' chaillich ghara-ghlais.
Bainig e taigh an righ agus chuir e fios thun an righ gu 'n robh toil
aige a bhi bruithinn ris, na 'm b'e 'thoil a tighinn mach g'a fhaicinn.
Dh'innis a luchd muinntir do 'n righ gu 'n robh an duine treun a
chumiacas roimhe air tighinn. Chuir an righ mach fios e thighinn
a staigh ; agus thainig e a staigh. Dh'eirich an righ, agus a bhean
agus a nighean a chuir failte agus furain air mac na bantraich, agus
ghabh an nighean gaol a cridhe air. Bha an t-am a la mu am dinn-
earach, agus bha 'n dinnear air a' bhord. Chaidh Fionnla a thoirt
gu ceann uachdrach a' bhuird, agus failte chridheil a chuir air. Bha
nair air dol an dail a bheidh maille ris an righ 's ri theaghlach.
Cha robh fios aige ciod e dheanadh e air an t-saoghal 's 0 ! bha e cho
diu'itidh ; ach smaoinich e gu'n deanadh e mar a b'fhearr a b*
urrainn da, agus rinn e mar sin. An deigh na dinnearach thug
an righ agus a nighean seomar eile orra. "Cha chreid mi fhein"
ors an righ "gur h-e th' ann idir." " 'Se gu dearbh, 'athair" ors
a' nighean; "ach gu bhi cinnteach, thig mise mu'n cuairt air,
agus gheibh mi mach." Thainig iad an sin a staigh far an robh
an t-bganacb, agus thuirt nighean an righ — " 'S mor an gniomh
a rinn thu an uair a bha thu 'n so roimhe. Cha robh moraire
no diuc, no iarla, no ridire, no tighearna fearainn, no coitear
bothain nach cuala mu 'dheighinn, 's nach fac e, nach robh 'cur
ag ann. Bha iad ag rathain nach ro duine 's am bith a b'urrainn
an gniomh ud a dhianadh. Saoil thu am b'urrainn thu dheanamh
f hathast ?" " U 's mi 's urrain," ors esan. Chaidh iad an
sin a mach agus a chiad chlach ghlas a chunnaic esan thall
bhuail e stracan dheth 'n t-slataig bheag charagaiche chiardhuibh
air a charra chruinn chloiche agus ri prioba na sula leum an carra
cruinn cloiche 'na 'oganach leadara donn f an coinneamh ! Chuir
mac na bantraich an claidheamh bir an laimh an bganaich leadara
dhuinn agus chuireadh colg-choltais a' ghaisgich fiamh air coig
ciad cois-shluagh ga 'm feothas. Bha na laig fo eagal 'a na laidir

Flonnladh Choinneachain. 29

fo mhor ioghnadh ("iomart." — A.A.C.); innathan bga a' guil,
's leanabain ag eu'ach, 's laoich cath a's comhraig a dearcadh le
h-ioghnnadh 's beul duinte air an smuain. Bhuail an sin Fionnla
an gaisgeach leis an t-slatag eile bha na laimh agus am prioba iia
sula bha 'n t-oganach leadarra donn na charra cruinn cloiche glaise,
mar a bha e roinihe !

Rug nighean an Righ air laimh air Fionnladh agus thug i
steach e, 's cha dealaicheadh i ris beo no marbh. 'Sin chuir an
Righ fios a mach fad a's farsuinn thun gach stata 's urra mhor 'san
riogiiachd iad a thighinn a nis, agus gu luath, chum agus gu'm
faiceadh iad rud nach robh iad a 'creidsinn roimhe. An sin thrus
iad agus mo chreach b'e sin an trusadh, bho '11 la sin gu ceithir la
deugnadheidh ! Cha robh na bu lugha na ceud gu leth carbad air
tighirm gus ma dheireadh nach robh aite 'sa' bhaile mhor a chumadh
a sluagh de gach ainm agus seorsa V inbbiche na cheile. Bha do
nigheanan dhiucannan, 's iarlaichean, 's mhorfhearan, 'thighearnan
's urrachan mora, cunntas gun aireamh ann agus na h-uile te riabh
a' call a ceille 's a cuimhne an gaol air Fiomiladh Choinneachain,
mac na Bantraich, [" Nach be sin an duine fortaiiach ? " — Seanach-
daih.] Ach a thaobh 's gu'ii robh nighean bhan an Righ an gaol air
Fionnladh cha robh math no stath do chach an suilean a thogail
no chaogadh ris. Bha farmad,aig each rithe agus dhuraichdeadh
iad air a gonadh i. B'fhearr leis na daoine mora nach d'thainig
iad riarnh bho'n taigh le'n cuid nighean. Bheireadh iad an
saoghal air chumhnanta 'sa bhi aig a 'n taighean leotha rithis.
Bha eagal orra nach deanadh an cuid nighean turn no car
matha gu brath thaobh an staid anns an robh iad air son mac
na bantraich. Bha e cho eueachdail, aoibheil, dleasnach, blath-
chridheach, 's e cho smiorail, duineil, na f hior Ghaidheal anns
gach dbigh, agus cha robh e idir na ioghnadh iad a ghabhail
gaoil air. Bha triuir mhaighdeanan bga ann a bha 'n impis
dol as an cial air a shon, agus bha eagal mor air an athairichean
do 'n taobh. Bha nighean an Righ coltach ri dhol a cial air a shon
mar an ceudua agus thubhairt i ri 'h-athair agus ri 'mathair nach
bu tamh oidhche no fois latha dhi mar pbsaadh i Fionnladh. An
sin phos i fein agus Fionnladh. B'iomadh Maighdean Og aig an
robh cridhe leointe 'n latha sin chionn nach i fein a fhuair Fionn-
ladh Choinneachain, mac na Bantraich, ri phbsadh, an aite nighean
mheallshuileach bhan an Righ. Rinneadh banais anabarrach mor
dhuibh, agus chaidh moran sluaigh a chumail rithe. Thogadh
ceol agus leagadh bron, chuireadh cuirm na suidhe 's cuideachd
air bonn, fuaim clarsaich shios a's seisd fidhle shuas, oighean
grinne 'seinn, oigfhearan meara a' cluich 's ri cebl-gaire, ri linn

30 Transactions.

nighean mheallshuileich, mhiogaich bhan an High bhi pbsadh ri
gaisgeach na slataige carraigiche ciardhuibh, a thug buaidh 's a
mharbh famhairean mbra na h-uamha.

Thug Fionnladh dhachaidh nighean an High. Chuir e mach a
thriuir mhac air bhbrd, agus cha d' innis e dh'ise (nighean an High)
gu'n robh e posda roimhe sin, idir. Bha e na chleachdabh aig
na bantighearnan mora gun an clann fein altrum idir. Agus a
thaobh nach eil na mathairichean a tabhairt ciche do 'n cloinn tha
iad a tabhairt dachaidh inuimeachan-altruim dhoibh. [" Qch an
cuala sibh riamh mathairichean is mi-nadurra na iad 1 " — Seanach-
aidh.] Bha muim-altruim aig nighean an High agus thug i dhachaidh
leatha i. Ciod a dh'innis a' mhuim-altruim do nighean an High
ach gu'n robh an duine aice posda roimhe 's gu'n robh triuir mhac
aige ri 'chiad mhnaoi. Cha robh nighean an High 'creidsin seo,
ach coma co dhiu bha e 'cur sgainneadh-cridhe oirre agus cho luath
'sa thainig an duine aice dhachaidh ghramaich i ris agus dh'
fheoraich i deth an robh firinn anns a' chainnt a chual i. Cha
deach e as aicheadh nach robh. Shir nighean an High an sin air
Fionnladh a chlann a thoirt dhachaidh ga h-ionnsuidh fein agus
gu'n deanadh i gniomh mathar agus muime dhoibh. Thug e
dhachaidh a chlainn ga h-ionnsuidh. Cha 'n fhaca sibh triuir
ghiullan riamh bu luraiche na iad, le 'm fait camalubach, br-
bhuidhe, 's le'n gruaidhean maotha mine dearga. Bu ghruamach
farranach gruaidh nighean an Righ ri linn nan triur mhacan a
thighinn dachaidh ga h-ionnsuidh. Shir i air a muim-altruim
doigh a dheanamh air an cuir fo gheasan agus fo chroisean, agus
gheall a muim-altruim gu'n deanadh i mar sin, agus rinn. Gu de
ach a bhuail muim-altrium nighean an Bigh an triuir mhacan leis
an t-slachdan-druidheachd, agus dh'fhas an triuir mhacan na 'n
tri chbin bhoidheach bhan. Dh'fhalbh iad. Bha iad a' falbh agus
iad a sior shiubhal fo chroisean agus fo gheasan gun fhois latha, gun
tamh oidhche.

Bha nighean an Righ 'toirt cluas agus cagar do 'm muim-altruim,
's le buidseachd 's le gisreagana cha robh dad a bha riabh ann nach
robh i 'g innseadh dhi. Bha i (nighean and Righ), air dol gu mi-
thlachd a's mollachadh, le end 's le farmad ri linn di faighinn a mach
mar a thachair, 's cha b' urrainn Fionnladh cuir suas leatha na b'
fhaide, 's falbhar e agus fagar i, agus togair air air toir a chuid
cloinne.

Bha Fionnladh a' siubhal frith agus fasaich agus am beul an
anmoich chunnaig e bothan beag air srath glinne. Smuanaich e aige
fein gu 'n deanadh e air a' bhothan bheag agus gu 'n iarradh e
cuid na h-oidhche ann. Rinn e air a' bhothan agus shir e cuid na

Fionnladh Choinneachain. 31

h-oidhche ann agus fhuair e sin. " 'S ann dubhach, deurach,
trom a tha thusa nochd a dhuine bhochd, a' siubhal frith agus fasaich
a' sireadh do thriuir mhac," arsa fear a bhothain. " O 's ann," arsa
Fionnladh, " Am fac thus' iad?" " Tha iad a' falbh monaidh a's
mointich na'n tri choin bhana. Cha 'n urrainn mise sion a
dheanamh riut, ach bithidh tu an taigli brathar dhomh an
ath-oidhch' agus mar dean esan cobhair ort cha 'n fhios dhomhsa
ciod a ni thu." "0 cha 'n 'eil fios agamsa c'ait am beil taigh do
bhrathar agus cha 'n urra mi amas air." "Bithidh tu aim co-
dhiu, c'ia aite 'sam beil e," arsa fear a' bhothain. Am beul an
latha maireach, ma bu mhoch a dh'eirich an uiseag, cha b'fhaide
laidh Fionnladh, agus dh' fhalbh e, a's bha, e fad an latha siubhal.
Am beul an anmoich faicear bothan beag air urlar glinne agus gabhar
thuige agus shir e aoidheachd. Fhuair e sin. "'Sann dubhach
deurach a tha thusa dhuine bhochd a siubhal frith a's fasaich a'
sireadh do thriuir mhac," arsa fear a' bhothain. " 'S ann, 's ann," arsa
Fionnladh, "Am fac thusa iad?" "'Tha iad a' falbh monaidh agus
mointich na'n tri choin bhana. Cha 'n urrainn mise sion a dheanamh
riut. Bha thu an taigh brathar dhomh an raoir; tha thu na 'm
thaigh fein a nochd; bithidh tu an taigh brathar eite dhomh an
ath oidhch', a's mar dean esan cobhair cha'n eil comas agams' ort."
Mu 'm bu mhoch a dh'eirich grian air glas-shleibhtean 's air gorm-
choilltean, bu mhoiche na sin a dh'eirich mac na Bantraich, agus
dh' fhalbh e air a thurus. Bha e 'siubhal frith a's fasaich, mach-
raichean mine gorma, 's garbhlaichean glasa shleibhtean gus an
robh ciaradh air an adhar, a's neul glas air an speur, agus ebin
bheaga nam preas a' sireadh cothrom cadail fo sgath nan corra-
chreag 's fo dhubhar nan crann uaine. Chunnaic e sin bothan
beag air sgath glinne 's ghabh e lorn a's direach dha ionnsuidh.
Shir e aoidheachd agus fhuair e sin. " 'S ann tiirsach, deurach,
trom, Ian alabainn a'sannraidh a tha thusa nochd a' sireadh do thriuir
mhac, a mhic na Bantraich," arsa fear a 'bhothain. " O 's ann,
am fac thusa iad ?" " Chunnaic mi ; tha iad a ghnath gun tamh a
falbh aonaich agus a' siubhal fasaich nan tri choin bharr-fhionn bhana.
Bha thu an taigh brathar domh air a mhon-raoir, an taigh brathar
eile an raoir, agus na m' thaigh fein an nochd. Thubhairt
a' chiad bhrathair nach b' urrainn dhasan dad a dheanamh air
do shon ach gu'rn bitheadh tu an taigh brathar eile dha
an ath-odhiche. Bha thu sin, 's thubhairt am brathair sin
riut nach b'urrainn dhasan dad a dheannamh riut, ach gu'm
bitheadh tu an taigh a bhrathar an ath-oidhche. Tha thu
sin a nis. Bha gach fear dhe 'm bhraithriean cho comasach riumsa
comhnadh a dheanamh riut n'an togradh iad fein. 'S beag 's cha

32 Transactions.

mlior a's urrainn mise a dheanamh riut, ach na's urrainn mi, ni mi.
Tha do thriuir mhac a' siubhal aonaich 'sa 'falbh fasaich n'an tri
choin gheala. Is mac Bantraich thu fein. Bha thu fein 's do plriu-
thar a' gabhail mu cheile gus an d'fhalbh i leis an Fhamhair, mac
Famhair mor na h-uamha. Mharbh thu Famhair mor na h-uamha
— nan coig ceann, nan coig meall 's nan coig muineal — agus a
cliuid mac, agus a' chailleach gharbh-ghlas. Chuidich Cailleach
chiar dhubh na buitseachd 's nan geasan thu agus phbs thu a
dalta — math air nam macan air am beil thu an toir. Chaochail an
sin a' chailleach agus a dalta, 's dh'fhag iad thusa na d' aonar leis
an triuir mhacan. Phos thu sin nighean an Righ agus gaol a
beatha 'sa bais aic' ort. A mhic na Bantraich cha d' innis thu dhi
gu'n robh dragh ort roimh ach dh' iunis a muim-altruim dhi e. Bha
gruaimean air do mhnaoi riut agus shir i ort do thriuir mhacan a
thabhairt dachaih do 'h-ionnsaidh. Rinn thu sin, ach cha bu
luaithe thug thu dhachaidh iad, na bhuail muim altruim do mhna
leis an t-slachdan-druidheachd iad, agus leum iad nan tri choin
bhana mach air an dorus agus bithidh iad fo na geasan sin gu la-
luain mar dean aon rud e." "O ciod an rud tha sin 1" arsa mac na
Bantraich 1 " " 'S e an rud tha sin thu dh' fhaotain tri leinntean
air an deanamh de chaineachan an t-shleibhe, agus am fugail air
cnoc. An sin thig do mhic agus cuiridh iad urnpa na leinntean geala
caineachain. Tha '11 tur agus an toinisg aca mar bha aca roimhe,
ach cha'ii urrain dhoibh sgur dhe'n alaban, 's dheth annradh gus
am faigh iad na leinntean caineachain. Tarruingidh gach te de na
leinntean caineachain bliadhna gu deananh agus cha luaithe na ceann
tri bliadhna bhitheas na leinutean deas agad mar urrainn dhut
bannal do mhnathan callanais fhaighein gu'n deanamh. Ach faigh
thusa, mhic na Bantraich mnathan callanais agus cuir banal dhiubh
a thrusadh a' chaineachain, buidheann ga chireadh, banal ga
chardadh, banal ga shniomh, banal ga fhidheadh agus banal a
dh-fhuaigheal nan leinntean." " Ciamar a gheibh mise sin!"
arsa Fionnladh, "is nach d'fhagadh blasad de 'n t-saoghal agam
nach do chaill mi." " Tha fios agam air sin cuideachd ach cha
'n urraiun mise an corr a dheanamh riut.''

.Dh'eirich mac na Bantraich moch 'sa mhaduinn, agus dh 'fhalbh
e. Bha duil aige gu'rn faigheadh e fath no gu'rn faiceadh e faireadli
air a thriuir mhacan, ach cha 'n fhaca. Bha e falbh mar sin fad an
latha, ach am beul dorcha na h-oidhche chunnaic e solus agus ghabh
e lorn a's direach a dh-ionnsuidh an t-soluis. Ghabh e steach bog
flinch mar bha e. Ch robh duine staigh roimhe. Bha teine math
air agus bha e ga thiormachadh fein ris. Chual e sin fathrum agus
stairm chas, gliogairt lann agus monomhor dhaoine tighinn chum

Fionntadh Chofnneaehain. 3S

an doruis. Leum e suas do'n chul-thaigh as fhuair e cuil anns an
deach e 'm falach. Bu ghann a fhuair e suas do'n chulaiste 'nuair a
thainig da-cheatharnach-dheug dhachaidh agus mart aca. Mharbh
iad am mart agus rosd iad air an teine i, agus dh'ith iad an leor
dhi. Bha Fionnladh a' sporaill 's a' chuil, agus a' sineadh a lamhan
uaith 'san dorcha feuchain an tuigeadh e ciod an seorsa aite anns
an robh e agus chuir e a lamh air corp. 'Ghabh e oillt gu leor ach
cha d'thubhairt e guth. 'Nuair a dhith a cheathairne 'n f heoil thubh-
airt fear dhiubh — " 'S fearr dhuinn sealltain a sios agus falbh leis
a' chorp sin fiach an cuir sinn & sealladh e." " 'S fhearr dhuinn
sin gu dearbh " arsa na h-uile fear dhiubh. Thainig iad a steach
do 'n chulaiste agus fhuair iad Fionnladh na ghurraban an sin.
Cha robh cothram teichidh aige. Bha cuid de'n chleith ag iarraidh
a mharbhadh an larach nam bonn agus cuid eile 'sireadh a chumail
beo agus toirt air coiseachd air a chasan fein thun an tuill anns an
robh iad gus an corp a chuir, seach a bhi 'giulan da chorp, agus
a bharrachd air sin gu'm bu choir a thoirt air an corp a ghiulan
thun an tuill. B'e seo a rinneadh. Chuireadh an corp air muin
Fhionnlaidh agus dh' f halbhadh leis. Bha seisear roimhe agus seisear
na dheidh na'm freiceadan air Fionnladh mu'n teicheadh e. Bha
iad a' dol air adhart gus an robh iad fagus do amhainn mhor
a bha 'n sin, agus bha cuid dhe 'n chleith a' sireadh an
giubhlan agus an giubhlanaiche 'thilgeadh leis an drochaid.
"Cha 'n eil math dhuinn sin" arsa each; " snamhaidh an corp
air uachdar an t-sruth, ach 's ann is fearr dhuinn dol gu Toll-da-
chliatain agus na dha thilgeadh a sios an sin." Chunnaic Fionnladh
nach robh aige ach am bas co-dhiu agus bha e 'feathamh ; 'san
uair a rainig e an drochaid tilgear e fein 's an corp sios
leis an drochaid. Bha e fhein agus an corp a' siubhal leis an
amhainn 'san amhainn na caorra bras. Uair bhidheadh e air muin
a'chuirp 'san ath uair bhidheadh an corp air a mhuinsa ! Bha an
oidhche cho dorcha 's a b'urrainn oidhche bhidh, 's bha Fionnladh
a' smaointeachadh nach robh bhi beb aige co-dhiu. Bha an
amhainn a' ruith 'na tuiltean caorrach, cairgheal 's bha e 'saoiltinn
mar baithdht' e gu'n spadadht' e ri stail-bhinnean chreag no ri bala-
bhagan chlach. Thilg an saobh-shruth a mach e agus air dha
amharc os a chionn chunnaic e preas seilich no calltainn. Rug e
air a' phreas ; ghramaich e ris, agus rinn e greim bais air. Co
luath 'sa thilg Fionnladh e fein leis an drochaid, leum na robairean,
ceathairn air gach taobh dhe'n amhainn diubh, as a dheigh. Bha
iad a' bruachaireachd an sin agus Fionnladh g* an cluinntinn a
bruithinn agus e fo 'n phreas. Ghlaodh na robairean a sin ri cheile
nach robh teagamh nach robli an corp agus a fear a bha ga ghiu-

3

34 Transactions.

Ian a mach air an loch, 's nach robh feum dhaibh feitheamh na
b'fhaide. Dh'fhalbh iad. Smogail Fionnladh mach as an amhainn
cho math 's a b'urrain dha 's bu mhotha le 'mharbh no le bheb — le
fuachd 's le fliuchadh, 's le acras. Bha e nis a' falbhan agus cha
robh fios aige air thalamh an t-saoghail c' ait an robh e, no c'ait
an rachadh e. Chunnaig e sin dearrsanaich sholuis agus rinn e
air. Ghabh e staigh 's ciod an tigh bha seo ach an taigh 's an
robh e roimhe ! Cha robh a h-aon de na meirlich a stigh agus
smaoinich Fionnladh o'n bu mhotha le 'mharbh na le 'bheo co dhiu
gu'n deanadh se e fein a thiormachadh ris an teine. Ghair' a's
thiormaich se e fein mar seo agus ghabh e 'leor de'n fheoil a
dh'f hag na robairean. Bha e sin gu math dheth, agus thoisich e ri
rurach feadh an taighe dh'fhiach ciod a gheibheadh e. Chaidh e suas
do 'n chulaiste far an robh e roimhe, agus fhuair e an sin clebca
's claidheamh duin-uasail. Thainig an latha; dh'fhalbh e; agus
thug e leis an cleoca 'san claidheamh. Bha e 'gabhail air aghart
gus am fac e taigh briagha geal air tullaich bhoidheich uaine.
Chaidh e gu ruig an taigh, agus a steach do 'n chitsin. Cha
robh ri'm faicinn an sin ach dithis bhoireannach. Dhandeoin
'alabain agus 'annraidh bha Fionnladh na dhuine dreachmhor,
's ghabh na boireannaich suim dheth, 's dh' iarr iad air suidhe
stigh chum an teine gu 'gharadh. Shuidh e, 's bha e ga
gharadh fein, agus na boireannaich a beachdachadh air a chlebca
gun smid ga radh. Thug Fionnladh trusadh agus sgioblachadh
air a chlebca agus thuit an claidheamh air an lar fa chomhair nam
boireannach. Chuir iad suas glaodh goinnte, agus thog iad orra far
an robh fear an taighe. Thuirt iad ris gu'n robh fear anns a'
chitsin aig an robh .coltas clebca agus claidheamh a' mhaighisteir
big. Thainig an duine uasal a nuas agus dh' fhebraich e do Fhionn-
ladh, "Cia as a thug thu choiseachd." Fhreagair Fionnladh "Tha
mi air allaban bho aite gu aite." '- 'Se clebca mo mhic, 'sa chlaidh-
eamh cuideachd 'a tha agad an sin; c' ait an d' fhuair thu iad?"
"Ma ta cha 'n ann a' toirt droch fhreagar duibh a tha mi, ge co e
sam bith do 'm buin an cleoca 's an claidheamh 's daor a choisinn
mis' orra." Dh'innis Fionnladh do 'n duin uasal cia mar fhuair
e 'n clebc agus an claidheamh agus mar a chuireadh a ghiulan a
chuirp e. " O mo chreach 's mo dhiubhail 's e mo mhac a bha sin.
Dh'fhalbh e 'thogail a' mhail bho cheann deich latha 's cha chualas
guth uaith bho sin. Saoil thu fainicheadh thu aon de na meirlich
na 'm faiceadh tu iad ?" " Ma ta 's mbr m' aobhar air cuimhne
chumail orra f had agus is beo mi. Tha mi cinnteach gu'm fainichinn
cuid diubh. Bha fear cam ruadh nam measg agus" — " 0 ! sin fear
de m* thuathanaich fein" arsa ad duin -uasal. " Cha robh agam do

Fionnladh Choinneachain. 3&

mhic ach an aon fhear 's mo chreach gu'n d' thugadh uam e."
Chuireadh fios air an fhear cham ruadh agus dh'f hainich fionnladh
e. Dh'aidich e 'chionnt a's dh' innis e air each am beachd e fein a
shaoradh. Chuireadh fios air an aon fhear deug eile 's thainig
iad. Chaidh mod a shuidheachadh orra ; thugadh binn an
crochadh, agus chaidh 'chuir gu grad an gniomh, 's bu gheal a
thoill iad sin.

Bha aon nighean aig an duin-uasal agus cha robh aige ach i
fein do chlann bho na mharbhadh a mhac. Ghabh i speis mhor
do Fhionnladh 's leig i laidhe brbin is bais oirre fein agus thubh-
airt i ri 'h-athair nach robh bhi beo air thalamh an t-saoghail aice
mar posadh i Fionnladh. Bha h-athair na bhoil mu dheidhinn
Fhionnladh airson a thapachd agus cha dealaicheadh e ris air chor
air bith. Ciod tha air — phos nighean an duin-uasail agus Fionn-
ladh !

Gach maiduinn 'n uair thigeadh an Ciobair dhachaidh theireadh
e " 'S mi tha faicinn an ioghnaidh air gach maduinn 'nuair a theid
mi mach — tri choin bhoidheach ghealla air a chnoc os cionn an
taighe." Thainig sin gu cluasan an duin-uasail agus chuir e fios
air a' chiobair. Dh'innis an ciobair an sealladh a bha e faicinn.
Bha neul fola falbh agus neul sneachda 'tighinn air Fionnladh.
Chaidh nighean an duin-uasail a null 's rug i na glacaibh
air, agus dh'fheoraich i ciod a bha cuir bruaidlein air. Cha
robh Fionnladh idir debnach iunseadh ach mu dheireadh
dh' innis e bho thoiseach gu deireadh mar dh' eirich dha
riamh, 's nach robh sion a bheireadh na niacain aige bho na
geasan ach na leinntean canaichean. " Bbid a's briathran
maighdinn ormsa," arsa nighean an duin-uasaD, "ma 's suidhe no
seasarnh dhomhsa, no ma 's tamh latha no fois oidhche dhomh,
gus an dean mi na leinntean canaichean, 's gus an toir mi do
thriuir mhac bho an geasan, ged a chosdadh e ar cuid an
t-shaoghal dhuinn." Fhuair nighean an duin-uasail an sin
mnathan callanais agus banal ghruagach gu aird a chuir air
na leinntean. Chuir i banal a thrusadh a chainneichean, banal
ga chireadh, agus banal ga chardadh, a's banal ga shniomh.
Dheilbheadh an snath; chuireadh am beirt-fhidhidh e, agus dh'
fhidheadh e. Fhuaradh ban-fhuaighealaichean ; dh'fhuaighealadh
naleuntean; nigheadh iad; thoradh iad; a's bha iad cho geal 's
cho min-bhog ri bg shneachd' an aonaich. Dh' fhagadh air a
chnoc os cionn an tighe iad. Air an ath mhaduinn chaidh Fionn-
ladh mach dh-f heuch am faigheadh e sealladh air a mhic. Ma bha
esan a mach trath cha robh nighean an duin-uasail dad na bu
mhoille. Bha na leinntean air an toirt air falbh ach cha robh

36 Transactions.

sgeul air na mic. Shireadh fad a's farsuinn ach cha d' fhuaradh
sgeul orra. Ma bha Fionnladh duilich, 's i' bha duilich nighean
an duin-uasail, ach cha robh atharachadh air. Chaidh seachduinn
thairis agus cha robh sgeul aig a' chiobair aon chuid air na coin
no air na gillean. Ach air an t-seachdamh latha, thainig triuir
bgannach gu dorus an tighe 's dh' fhebraich iad air son maighstir
bg an tighe. Thainig Fionnladh mach far an robh iad agus e ro
bhrbnach. " Ciod a th' oirbh," arsa na h-bganaich. " Tha mi a'
caoidh mo thriuir mhac gaolach a's nach fhaic mi gu dilinn
tuilleadh iad." " 'S sinne na mic," arsa na h-bganaich. "Cha
sibh, cha sibh idir," ars' esan. "'S sinn gu dearbh," ars
iadsan; "seall sibh, sin na leinn tean geala cainneachain a rinn
ar muime ghaolach dhuinn" agus iad a fosgladh am braillichean
's a feuchainn nan leinntean cainneachain. Bha fadal air nighean
an duin-uasail nach robh Fiomiladh a tilleadh a stigh air ais agus
thainig i mach dh-fheuch ciod a bha ga chumail.

Bha'n an triuir oganach na'm fleasgaich cho briagha 's a b' urrainn
duine 'fhaicinn an aite sam bith. Thog fear dhiubh air latha bha
sin agus falbhar a shireadh 'fhortain. Rainig e rioghachd Righ
Torra-fo-thuinn. Bha e latha an sin a sraidearachd air beul-thaobh
luchairt an righ agus co thachair ris ach nighean an righ. Bheann-
aich an t-bganach dha 'n oigh, agus bheannaich an oigh dha air ais.
Chaidh nighean an righ dhachaidh 's leig i laidhe brbin a's bais
oirre fein. Chuir i fios air a h-athair agus thubhairt i ris gu'n
robh a cridhe agus a gaol air oganach a choinnich i a' sraidearachd
air beul-thaobh na luchairt agus gu'm bu bhean mharbh gun anam
i mar faigheadh i ri phosadh e. Thubhairt i mar an ceudna ri
'h-athair gu'm bu mhac righ e thainig fad air astar, agus nach bith-
eadh beo-shaoghal aice mar faigheadh i e ! Thubhairt an t-oganach
donn ri nighean an righ nach robh annsan ach gille bochd aig
nach robh ni de'n t-saoghal 's nach robh e freagarach dha nighean
righ a phosadh. " Coma leat sin," arsa ise, " tha do chraicionn cho
gile 's cha mhiosa do shnuadh na snuagh mac righ no ridire." An
sin phos nighean an Righ agus an t-bganach donn, Mac Fhionn
laidh Choinneachain, mac na Bantraich. Bha dara leth na riogh-
achd aca fhad 's bu bheb an High agus an uair a bhasaich e bha 'n
rioghachd uile aca dhaibh fein, agus bha 'n t-oganach donn 'na Righ.
Goirid na dheidh sin chaochail Fionnladh agus a bhean, nighean
an duin-uasail.

Thainig gort mhbr air an duthaich 'san robh teaghlach Fhionn-
laidh a' tamh. Chuala dithis mhac Fhionnlaidh gun robh gran gu lebr
aig righ Torra-fo-thuinn, agus togar orra, 's falbhar a cheannach

Fionnladh Choinneachain. 37

grain uaithe. Rainig iad rioghachd Torra-fo-thuinn agus chaidh iad
gu treamhor an High. Leig an sgallag f haicin dhoibh an granary
'san robh an High a' rSic a' ghrain. Dh'f hainich an Righ a dhithis
bhraithrean, agus thoisich e air an ceasnachadh. Bha e 'febraich
dhiubh co as a thainig iad, 's ciamar a bha daoine 'san ait as an
d'fhalbh iad. An sin dh'innis e gu'm b' esan am brathair. " Cha
sibh " ars' iadsan agus cha chreideadh iad guth de 'n thubhairt e.
Arsa 'n Eigh, " 'S mi gu dearbh agus gun teagamh, agus is fearr
dhuibh tighinn agus fuireach maille rium fein 'nam rioghachd."
Fhreagair na braithrean "Cha 'n fhuirich, cha 'n fhuirich; tha
teaghlaichean againn aig a' bhaile, agus cha 'n urrainn duinn fuireach
an seo." " Thugaibh 'ur teaghlaichean leibh an seo, agus ni mise
gniomh caraid agus dleasnas brathar ribh." Chuir an E-igh a
bhrathairean air falbh airson an teaghlaichean, agus comhlan
dhaoine chum an cuideachaidh. Thainig brathairean an High
agus an teaghlaichean agus thuinich iad an rioghachd Righ Torra-
fo-thuinn. Thog an Righ taighean briagha air an son, agus rinn
e gniomh caraid agus dleasnas brathar riutha mar a gheall e,
agus mar d' rinn e na V fhearr cha d' rinn e idir ni bu
mhiosa. Bha teaghlach mhbr nighean a's ghillean aig nighean
Righ Torra-fo-thuinn, agus aig an Oganach Dhonn, Mac Fhionn-
laigh Choinneachain, mac na Bantraich. Bha iad uile gu leir gu
math agus gu ro-mhath, a' caitheamh cuirm agus cuideachd le
solas a's le toileachas inntinn, le caithream bhard 's le fuaim dhan.
Dh'f hag mis' an sin iad agus cha chuala mi riabli tuille, guth
air Fionnladh Choinneachain, mac na Bantraich.

16th DECEMBER 1875.

At the meeting on this date, after transacting some routine
business, an interesting biography of the late Dr Duncan Forbes,
Professor of Oriental Languages in King's College, London, was
read.

6th JANUARY 1876.

At the meeting on this date, the following gentlemen were
elected ordinary members of the Society, viz. : — Mr A. R. Munro,
Birmingham ; Councillor Macpherson, Inverness ; and Mr W.
A. Macleay, birdstuffer, do. Thereafter, the meeting set to
complete, so far as possible, the arrangements for the annual
supper.

38 Transactions.

13th JANUARY 1876.

On this date,
THE FOURTH ANNUAL SUPPER OF THE SOCIETY

was held in the Caledonian Hotel. In the absence of Mr Stewart
of Brin, who was indisposed, Provost Simpson occupied the chair,
and was supported by Mr Jolly, H.M. Inspector of Schools ; Rev.
Mr Maclauchlan, Gaelic Church; Bailie Davidson; Rev. Mr
Macleod, Kincardine, Ardgay ; Rev. Mr Macdonald, Queen Street
Church; Mr Dallas, Town-Clerk; Bailie Macdonald; Mr W.
Mackay, solicitor; and Dr F. M. Mackenzie. The croupiers
were Bailie Noble and Mr Charles Mackay, contractor. Among
those present were — Councillor Peter Falconer; Dr Macnee; Mr
Duncan Sutherland, Lochgorm; Mr Hood, commercial traveller;
Mr James H. Mackenzie, bookseller; Mr Maclean, coal-merchant;
Mr Macdonald, contractor; Mr A. Mackenzie, "Celtic Magazine";
Mr Ross, teacher, Alness; Mr Clark, assistant procurator-fiscal;
Mr A. Fraser, accountant; Mr Cameron, of Gordon & Smith;
Mr F. Maciver, Church Street; Mr Maciver, cabinetmaker; Mr
Robertson, Bank of Scotland; Mr A. R. Macraild, Dornie; Mr

F. Macgillivray, solicitor ; Mr Middleton, coal-merchant ; Mr W.

G. Stuart; Mr D. R. Ross, Gas Office; Mr W. A. Deas, writer;
Mr Barclay; Mr Hugh Mackenzie, Bank Lane; Mr Macdonald,
flesher, Castle Street; Mr Hugh Fraser; Mr Macleod, of Fraser
and Macleod; Mr Shaw, tinsmith; Mr Barren, " Courier" Office, Mr
Bain, do.; Mr Mackenzie, "Free Press" Office; Mr Murdoch, editor,
"Highlander"; Mr E. Forsyth, "Inverness Advertiser"; and Mr J.
M. Duncan, "Highlander." The Chairman intimated that apologies
had been received from Mr Fraser-Mackintosh, M.P. ; Professor
Blackie ; Mr Mackintosh of Raigmore ; Captain Chisholm of
Glassburn; Mr Mackintosh of Holme; Mr Sime, H.M. Inspector
of Schools; Mr Macleod, do.; Mr J. Macfarquhar, Edinburgh;
Sheriff Macdonald, Inverness; Mr A. C. Mackenzie, Maryburgh;
Dr Mackenzie, Eileanach; Dr Mackenzie, Silverwells; Rev. Mr
Macgregor, West Church; Mr Hugh Rose, solicitor; Mr W. B.
Forsyth; Mr Thomas Mackenzie, Broadstone Park; and Mr
Alexander Mackenzie, Church Street. The Rev. Mr Maclauchlan
having said grace, an excellent supper was served by Mr Menzies.
The Rev. Mr Macleod returned thanks.

The Chairman said he had been very unexpectedly called upon
to preside, and he trusted to the kind indulgence of the meeting
in carrying through the programme. Mr Stewart had been very

Annual Supper. 39

unwell for two or three days, and at the last moment had sent
the following letter to the Secretary : —

" Dear Sir, — I have to express my extreme regret that in con-
sequence of indisposition, which has for some days confined me to
bed, which the doctor prohibits me from leaving, it is entirely out
of my power to do myself the honour and pleasure of presiding at
the festive gathering of the Gaelic Society this evening. Will
you convey my regret to the meeting 1 I have prepared a very
rough sketch of what I intended to say, and I place it at your
disposal, either to be, or not to be, used. I trust you have
obtained a far more competent person for the chair, and I hope
you will all pass a very agreeable evening."

The Chairman then opened the toast-list with the health of the
Queen, followed by the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the
other members of the Royal Family, and the Army, Navy, and
Reserve Forces. To the latter, Mr Robertson, Bank of Scotland,
replied. The health of the Lord Lieutenant, proposed by the
Chairman, was cordially responded to. Mr Hugh Fraser then
sang in a spirited manner " Oran Mhic-'ic-Alastair," for which
he was encored.

The Secretary, Mr Mackenzie of the "Free Press," then read the
annual report as follows : —

" The Gaelic Society of Inverness continues to enjoy that
success the objects for which it exists merit. It grows in popu-
larity, influence, and numerical strength. The last year was in
every respect a successful one ; and an outline of what was done
may not be out of place : —

" The third annual supper (last year's) was held in the Station
Hotel. Sir Kenneth S. Mackenzie of Gairloch, Bart., occupied
the chair, and round the table there was a large gathering of
Highland gentlemen. On that occasion, the chairman opened a
discussion on Highland education, in which Mr Murdoch, Mr
Jolly, 'and Cluny Macpherson took part. The subject was sub-
sequently taken up at the ordinary weekly meetings of the Society
and discussed j and a petition thereanent to the House of Com-
mons will be found on page 188 of our last volume of Transac-
tions. A sum of money was afterwards voted out of the funds of
the Society as prizes to Gaelic scholars in one of the Highland
parishes; and Gairloch was selected for the first competition, in
consideration of the active and generous part taken by Sir Kenneth

40 Transactions.

Mackenzie in furthering Highland education. A large number of
children competed, and the examiners considered the different
efforts highly meritorious.

" Early in the year, the Society sent circulars to all the School
Boards in the Highlands anent teaching Gaelic in Highland
schools. These circulars in some cases had the desired efl'ect.

"The Society warmly supported the movement to found a
Celtic Chair in one of our Universities, and Professor Blackie
began the Celtic Chair campaign with a lecture delivered in Inver-
ness, under the auspices of this Society. The success which sub-
sequently attended his labours is well known, and towards it this
Society has contributed the sum of j£20.

"At our ordinary weekly meetings several papers of interest
have been read. Mr Alex. Fraser furnished what may be con-
sidered an early ecclesiastical history of Inverness, which will be
found in our Transactions. In the way of tradition Mr Alex.
Mackenzie contributed a paper on Coinneach Odliar, the Brahaii
Seer; and Mr Carmichael, C.M.S.A.S., an interesting tiyeulachd,
entitled Fionnladh Clwinneachain, mac na Bantraich.

" The annual assembly of the Society, held in the month of July,
was highly successful. Mr Eraser-Mackintosh, M.P., presided,
and spoke on the subject of teaching Gaelic in Highland schools;
ProfesHor Blackie, Edinburgh, and Professor Black, Aberdeen,
spoke on Celtic Literature, and Gaelic in schools; and Mr Mac-
andrew, Inverness, addressed the meeting on the chivalry of the
Highlanders.

" The Society at the outset resolved to publish their Transac-
tions annually. The first volume was published in 1872, and the
volume for 1872-73 was published in 1874. A year having thus
been lost, the publishing committee of 1874-75 resolved to publish
in one volume the Transactions of 1873-74 and 1874-75, which
they did; and to a copy of this volume each member is entitled.
The volume for 1875-76 is in preparation for the press, and will
be published in the course of the year.

" The membership of the Society continues to increase. The
Society began with 24 members, and at the end of its first year
the number had increased to 182. At the end of 1873, there was
an increase of 70, the total number on the roll being 252. At the
end of 1874 there were 270 on the roll, the increase during the
year being 18. At the end of the present year the number on the
roll is about 320, the increase during the last year being thus
about 50. Nearly one-half of the members of the Society live
outside of Inverness, and are spread over Ireland, Wales, the

Annual Supper. 41

principal English towns, America, and most of the British
Colonies, as well as over all Scotland. These members have it in
their power to benefit the Society more than those who live in
Inverness ; for those of them who are of a literary turn of mind
can furnish papers for our Transactions, and all of them can
induce other Celtic friends to join the ranks of the Society, and
thus increase its strength numerically and financially. If each
member of the Society would secure one new member during the
ensuing year, the membership would be thus doubled. This plan
has been found to work admirably in other societies, and it is
hoped our Celtic friends will give it a trial. Our Society is open
to ladies as well as gentlemen. Of the former there is a consider-
able number on. the roll; and at a recent meeting of the Society
a resolution was passed declaring the desirableness of having
ladies present in future at the annual supper.

" The Society regret the loss they have sustained during the
last year through the death of Dr Halley, London, one of our
earliest life members, and a gentleman who had always taken
great interest in everything connected with the Highlands and
Highland people.

" One of the objects of the Society is to collect books (in what-
ever language) bearing on Celtic subjects. A number of dona-
tions of this kind have already been made, and the Society trusts
that its claims will be recognised by gentlemen in possession of
such books, and who wish to popularise Celtic literature.

" The present Council now retire, and the Society, in the course
of the present month, will have to elect new office-bearers."

The Chairman said he had received a telegram from the Chair-
man of the Glasgow Comunn Gaidhealach, who evidently wanted
to test the power of the Chairman of the Gaelic Society in reading
Gaelic. He begged to say, that though he was a very poor hand
at the Gaelic, he was not beaten this time. The message was as
follows : — " Bliadhna mhath ur dhuibh, agus moran diubh" — •(" A
good New-Year to you, and many of them.") That was a pleas-
ant salutation, and he would ask the Secretary to send a suitable
reply. The next toast was the toast of the evening — " Success to
the Gaelic Society " — and they would pardon him if he only said
a few words on the subject, and left it to be dealt with by Mr
Stewart's speech. He had much pleasure in hearing from the
report that the Society had increased from 24 members to 320 —
fourteen times as many as they had to begin with. The object of
the Society was to draw together men of common feelings, and

42 Transactions.

Highland subjects, and though he was not a Gaelic speaker —
(" Yes, you are ") — well, he was but a poor hand at it — he had as
strong Highland feelings as any one present. Highlanders ought
to remember the old motto, " Shoulder to shoulder "; and by
sticking to that motto, the Society would continue to prosper. If
the Society had done nothing more than collect the papers which
they had published in their Transactions, they would have done a
good work. To young men he recommended the study of Gaelic,
for it was not a dead but a living language ; and if they went in
for learning French and German and other tongues, he did not see
what was to deter them from acquiring Gaelic. Certainly no
other language had stronger claims upon them. He would now
ask Mr Mackenzie, the secretary, to read Mr Stewart's speech.

Mr Stewart's speech was as follows : — Gentlemen, — I do not
use mere words of form in assuring you how conscious I am that
you have made a very bad selection in doing me the honour of
asking me to take the chair on this occasion. I feel that it is
almost scandalous that one who by descent is about the most
Highland of Highlanders — being about equally connected with
Lochaber, Badenoch, and Strathspey — who has not in his veins a
drop of blood that is not purely Celtic, and who owes so much to
Highlanders, should not be able to speak fluently and perfectly
the language of the Gael. But I am not singular in my shame,
and the number of persons in the same unhappy state of ignor-
ance requiring correction, is some argument in support of the
movement made by this Society to vivify and restore the Gaelic
language. In addressing a few words to you on the subject of the
Society, permit me to say that it appears to me to be of great
importance that its objects should be clearly understood, and that
there should be no exaggeration or misunderstanding on the sub-
ject. Exaggeration on your part would be to place a formidable
weapon in the hands of those would-be wise men, whose argu-
ments, in the absence of tinsel or over-covering, would be shattered
to pieces by the sound of your voices or the ink of your pens.
Then, gentlemen, without exaggeration, I say that your objects
are simply defensive and restorative, and in no way aggressive.
Just as the Serjeant with his military band, acting in the true
policy of his country, goes about seeking recruits, not for the
invasion of France or Germany, but for the protection and defence
of his native shores — so you do not wish to supersede the English,
French, or German tongue, in the business of life, or even in
social intercourse ; nor is it yet your desire to take one iota from
any other literature. Your simple desire is to rescue from

Annual Supper. 43

neglect the language of the Celt, to unearth its rich literary
treasures, and to hand its gems to future generations; and
as your aims are peaceful, so are the means you employ for
their attainment. Those means are also rational, and well
calculated to attain your ends. You stir the hearts and
sympathies of your Highland fellow-countrymen, and sound on
your mountain tops, and in your glens and valleys, and in your
towns, and villages, and hamlets, and in the household of men of
every degree the trumpet of danger to the language of their fathers,
and you endeavour to obtain the union of them all in its defence —
that union which is strength. You seek to invigorate that union
by inviting the co-operation of your countrymen who have found
their residence in other lands, many of them far away. You seek
the union of the learned of other lands, and invite philologists to
pluck part of the golden apples which you present for their ac-
ceptance. Your objects you seek also to promote by your annual
gatherings — by various meetings of members held throughout the
year; by the publication of your proceedings; by the co-operation
of kindred societies ; by the aid of the press — particularly the en-
tire local press, every member of which has entered with more or
less zeal into the cause ; and by means of the Celtic Magazine pub-
lished in Inverness — a magazine, I understand, of considerable
ability, and intended for the diffusion of the Gaelic language and
literature; last, and certainly not least, our friend, Professor
Blackie — a man whose genius is as great as his energy is indomit-
able— has taken up the cudgels in our cause, and with a declara-
tion as undoubted as if it had been an oath, determined that within
a very short time there shall be established a Celtic Chair in the
University of Edinburgh. These means are bearing good fruit, as
is abundantly demonstrated by the report which has just been read
by your indefatigable secretary. And is there any good reason
why the Society, with its objects soberly understood, should not
prosper] Is there any good reason why Gaelic, with its vast
stores of unwritten literature, should be handed over to the public
executioner, or left to die of starvation1? We maintain, on the
contrary, that there are the best reasons why it should live and
flourish. Scottish Highlanders, although they have good heads,
have still better hearts, and there is no channel by which those
hearts can be so effectually reached and won as by the use of their
mother tongue. It has a power and copiousness, and harmony and
tenderness, not exceeded by any language on the face of the earth.
It is the language of our forefathers, of our homes, our Highland
homes, of the days of our childhood, in which was first conveyed

44 Transactions.

to us a father's and mother's love; which was spoken when High-
landers played with their little brothers and sisters, and kinsfolk
and school-fellows. We all feel how tender are the associations of
our earliest days, and how we would not barter them for the
brighter prizes of after life. Then Gaelic is the language of the
Highlander's traditions, and poetry, and music, and songs, in which
he was first told of the valour and endurance, and chivalry and
fidelity of those who went before him, and in which he was told of
the grandeur of his mountains and the beauty of his glens, and in
which, in a word, he learned to be a true patriot. It is, above all,
the language of his 'devotions, in which he first heard a father of
perhaps a severe aspect, but of a true and loving heart, open that
holy book which carried a message from heaven to earth — the lan-
guage in which his mother spoke to him when leading him by the
hand from his humble dwelling, and to the old church where the
good old minister from the old pulpit addressed him again in kind
and holy words, and led him to ask in prayer that he might be a
good boy, and eventually a good and God-fearing man, and a loyal
subject. I need not speak of the valour of those men whose lan-
guage in former times was the Gaelic. The world knows it ; but
I cannot let slip the opportunity for expressing my deep conviction
that the way to induce Highlanders in the present day to become
soldiers is not by sending among them recruiting English-speaking
Serjeants from Liverpool or Manchester for English or Lowland
regiments. Send to them the Gaelic and the tartan, with an offer
to enlist them in the regiments in which their forefathers fought,
and you will still get abundance of men as distinguished as their
famed ancestors. I am detaining you too long, but I must say a
word about teaching in our Highland schools, and I heartily join
those who think it not the best thing to exclude Gaelic from the
teaching of children whose only language is Gaelic, and I venture
to hope that the firm stand made by the Society on this subject is
already bearing fruit. In a Highland parish, of which I am a
member of the School Board, the question of teaching Gaelic was
discussed only the other day, and we came to a unanimous deci-
sion that Gaelic should be taught. Gentlemen, I have condemned
exaggeration in the statement of our objects and our means. I
have not condemned enthusiasm, which many people set down as
akin to exaggeration. There are, indeed, hot fits of enthusiasm, as
there are cold fits of indifference. One cannot help loving the
former with all its faults, while one hates the other. But there is
also a warm, steady enthusiasm, springing from deep conviction,
and deep-rooted in the ardent natures of the Celt, which gives

Annual Supper. 45

courage to the heart and strength to the arm, and inspires indo-
mitable perseverance and earnestness in a good cause. You have
already evinced that spirit of steady enthusiasm. Do not let it
go, and it will lead you on to victory. (The speech was attentively
listened to and frequently applauded.)

The Chairman said, after hearing such a stirring speech, they
could not but all the more regret Mr Stewart's absence. He
hoped, and he was sure they all cordially joined with him in the
hope, that Mr Stewart would be able to be present at next meet-
ing, and they would have great pleasure in listening to him. The
Chairman then proposed " The Gaelic Society of Inverness," which
was received with loud and continued cheering.

Mr Eraser then sung another Gaelic song, which was highly
appreciated

Mr Dallas, Town-Clerk, in a few jocular remarks, proposed
the health of Lochiel and Mr Fraser-Mackintosh — the county and
burgh members — which was heartily responded to. Thereafter,

Mr William Mackay, solicitor, proposed the toast of " High-
land Education." After a few preliminary remarks, he said — In
connection with this toast it may be interesting to inquire very
shortly into the state of Education in the Highlands in days gone
by. Before the Reformation, the little learning in the land was
chiefly shut up in the monasteries, and although schools are known
to have been in various Scottish burghs, including perhaps our
own, as early as the thirteenth century, Highland children, we
may safely assume, were, until a much later period, innocent of
education as we understand the word. They were not, however,
without their literature. Around their winter fires our forefathers
were wont to recite beautiful tales, stirring ballads, and wise
sayings, the expressive language and high moral tone of which
such of us as can understand them a,re forced to admire even to
this day. Judging from those of them which have come down to
us, the great virtues which they inculcated were to reverence the
memory of the departed, to respect the aged who had not yet gone,
to emulate the valour of the brave, and to love freedom and manly
truthfulness. It must be confessed that excellent as the teaching
was, the old Highlander was not slow to "lift" the best cow of
the Lowlander or of his neighbouring clan; but we must not
judge him according to our standard of right and wrong. The
Highlander looked upon a successful raid as noble and legitimate
warfare, and gloried as much in it as the Prussians do in having
defeated the French. And let it not be supposed, as is often
erroneously done, that —

46 Transactions.

"The good old rule, the simple plan,
That they should take who have the power,
And they should keep who can."

was confined to the Highlands. Old Cleland, who, in the 17th
century, sang thus of the Highlander —

"If any ask her of her thrift,
Forsooth, her nainsell lives by thift."

was only imitating Sir Richard Maitland, who, at an earlier period,
complained of the men of Liddesdale in the following strain : —

"Thay spuilze puir men of their pakis,
They leif them nocht on bed nor bakis;
Baith hen and cok
With reil and rok
The Lairdis Jok
All with him takis."

Indeed, matters were in a worse plight in the Lowlands than in
the Highlands; for while the great object of the cateran's love was
a good cow — and he scorned to take less — the moss-trooper of the
South did not look askance even at a hen. After the Reforma-
tion several Acts of Parliament were passed, with the object of
establishing schools in Scotland ; but their provisions were not
universally carried out in the Highlands. To illustrate the un-
satisfactory state of education, even so late as 1682, I shall read to
you the reports made to the Bishop of Moray, who personally
visited the parishes of Croy, Daviot, Kirkhill, and Petty, in
May of that year, Episcopalianism being then for a short time the
creed recognised by the Government. Upon his inquiring at
Croy "if they had a schoolmaster in the parish for educating
children and reading the Holy Scriptures," the minister replied,
" that they had no fixt sallary for one." It was therefore strongly
recommended to "take speedy commencing for settling one,
and providing maintinance, conform to ye Act of Parliament."
To the Bishop's inquiry at Daviot the minister answered, " That
they could not, nor had any schoolmaster, because there was no
encouragement for one, nor no mediate centraull place qr they
could fix a schoole to the satisfaction of all concerned." This
attempt to please everybody must commend itself to such of our
School Boards as have not yet agreed upon sites for their schools;

I

Annual Supper. 47

and it was enough to take the breath out of the worthy Bishop,
for he left without making any recommendation. Things were
better at Kirkhill, where there was " a schoole, and a fixt sallary
for a schoolmaster " (Thomas Fraser), who was also precentor and
clerk, and read the Scriptures publicly every Lord's day betwixt
the second and third bell. The salary was a chalder of victual,
£20 Scots (or <£!. 13s. 4d. sterling), out of the "box," and the
"baptisme and mariage mony." At Petty, there was not only a
"fixt schoolmaster," but also what would make glad the heart of
a modern Inspector, "a flourisheing schoole," the master of which
" carried diligently in his charge ; Christianly in his life ; and was
a great help to the minister." It will thus be seen, that while in
1682 education was attended to in some parishes, it was neglected
in others; but in 1696 an Act was passed, the result of which
was soon to establish a school in every parish. Highland parishes
are, however, as large as German kingdoms, and, in many cases,
children were not within twenty miles of a school. To remedy this
state of matters, the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian
Knowledge, about the middle of last century, established schools
in remote districts, and appointed earnest and God-fearing men as
teachers, preachers, and catechists. The influence of these men
was marvellous. Before their time, Sunday was the great day for
Highland sports, but under their teaching matters changed, and
before the end of last century the other extreme was reached, and
the Sabbath was so strictly observed that the food used that day
was cooked on Saturday, or not at all. In more recent times,
teachers were supported by the Gaelic School Society, and many
excellent schools were established by the Free Church; so that
the Education Act of 1872 found the educational wants of the
Highlands pretty well attended to. Under that Act, it is sup-
posed the proper education of the children will be further insured ;
but although it may work well in towns and in populous districts,
its machinery is not suited to the large and sparsely-peopled
parishes of the Highlands ; and, notwithstanding the special grants
allowed by Government, it is, and will, unless amended, I fear,
continue to be an enormous drain on the slender resources of the
Highland people. Under the good old parochial system, and the
valuable schools of the Societies and the Free Church, the High-
lands sent out men into the world who have been an honour not
only to their native glens, but also to broad Scotland. What the
new order of things will bring forth remains to be seen ; let us
hope it may be even as anticipated by its most sanguine supporters.
The question of Gaelic in Highland schools has of late received

48 Transactions.

much attention, and is still being keenly discusssd. Time will
not permit me to enter into it, and it is not necessary that I
should. There is one striking feature in the controversy. On
the side of the Gaelic are educated Highlanders, whose personal
experience has taught them how absurd it is to endeavour to
educate a child, and ignore the only language which he under-
stands ; on the opposite side are able and well meaning gentlemen,
but knowing not Gaelic, they are as qualified to discuss its merits
as the Laplander is to appreciate the merits of the language of the
Hottentot. Another matter, and T am done. It is one in which
Highland young men, like myself, take a deep, though perhaps
shy, interest. Our young ladies are now diligent students of
music, I have no sympathy with those utilitarians who think that
the time thus spent is lost. Where there is music there is peace;
and I think it was old Luther who said that, with music, he could
drive away the devil himself. Our fair musicians are, therefore,
so far, doing well; but, nevertheless, I have somewhat against
many of them. It is not, perhaps, necessary that every accom-
plished Highland lady should be able to strut along the mountain
side discoursing music on the bagpipe, but if she can so well render
German and Italian airs on the piano, she ought surely to play the
melodies, and sing the songs, of her native land. Far birds have
fair feathers ; but, to the ear of the Scotsman, there is no far bird
that pipes so sweetly as our own lark or mountain thrush, plainly
clad though they be. Mr Mackay concluded by asking the com-
pany to drink heartily to the toast of " Highland Education," which
he coupled with the name of Mr Jolly, H.M. Inspector of Schools.

The toast having been heartily responded to,

Mr Jolly replied. He was proud that the toast had been so
well received— it augured well for the cause of Highland education
and the people, and the excellent remarks of Mr Mackay were a
good prelude to the subject. He thought they had to congratulate
themselves on the progress which had taken place in the cause of
education in the Highlands since that time last year. There were
several points as proving that increasing interest and progress to
which he wished to direct their attention. At the last annual
assembly of the Society, a very distinguished Highlander, Sir
Kenneth Mackenzie, occupied the chair, and spoke well on the
teaching of Gaelic in schools. Shortly afterwards, the same gentle-
man presided at a very interesting meeting of Highland School
Boards. He (Mr Jolly) was present at that meeting, and felt the
greatest pleasure in being so. It was the first meeting of represen-
tatives of the School Boards of the Highlands and the Outer

I

Annual Supper. 49 0

Hebrides, and the interest shown and the moderate concessions
demanded by that meeting were excellent, which was proved by
the many concessions that meeting had been able to obtain
from Government. It was a meeting of honourable gentlemen
connected with the Highlands met for an admirable purpose. He
had spoken of concessions, and some of these connected with the
Highlands merited their attention. There were many points in
the present Act which required to be improved, so that the carry-
ing on of school work could be made much less expensive than it
was. One concession was of great value. They were aware that
the Highlands were peculiarly unfortunate in having the parishes
so extensive, and that each district, though thinly populated, had
to provide its own school. The Government had formerly re-
quired Boards to expend at least double the sum given by them;
but now Government was prepared to grant .£400 for every
Highland school, irrespective of what was expended by the Boards,
and if they spent more than the amount of that grant, Govern-
ment was prepared to pay one-half of the additional outlay. Thus,
if a School Board were to expend £600, Government would be
prepared to give £500, and the School Board would only pay
£100 ! Then the education of outlying 'and sparsely populated
districts required to be considered. To put schools in all these
places was an impossibility, and Government had made another
concession. To small schools, with an attendance of at least
fifteen pupils, they were prepared to give an additional grant of
£10 or £15. Further, where the population was very scattered '
they allowed itinerating teachers ; and if, after being taught for
sixty days in the year, the children were presented at the nearest
school, and they passed, they got double the grant given in
other schools! These concessions were of great value. One
pleasing feature arising out of the Education Act was the
number of very fine school buildings which were being erected
all over the country. Of course, the pockets of the ratepayers
were affected, and a good deal of grumbling went on, but as a
whole the Highlands had shown a very admirable spirit in bearing
the expense entailed on them by the carrying out of the Act ; and
although one was sorry to see in some parts of the Highlands de-
tractors trying their best to work against the School Boards, still
their number was gradually growing less, and instead of speaking
much about such people, it was, perhaps, better to leave them to
the obscurity they deserved. Another point was the teaching of
Gaelic in schools. He had the honour of making some remarks
on this subject last year, on which occasion a very excellent dis-

4

50 Transactions.

cussion took place. He regretted that his position with regard to
Gaelic had been very largely misunderstood by the Society, by his
very good friend the " Highlander," and by others. He was sup-
posed to wish the extinction of the Gaelic language, while the very
reverse was true ; and the fact of his being put among the ranks of
the enemy showed that good Highlanders did not know who were
their friends. Although a Lowlander, he had every sympathy
with those who desired to foster the Gaelic; and he held exactly
the same views on the subject of Gaelic teaching as were held by
such good friends of the language as Professor Blackie, the Rev.
Mr Macgregor of Inverness, Dr Clerk of Kilmallie, and many
others. In this dispute there were two camps — those who wished
Gaelic to be taught, and those who wished it to be stamped out.
'Among the friends of Gaelic, however, there were two divisions,
differing in tactics, or in the methods they proposed. Certain
ultra-enthusiasts, as he might characterise them, wished Gaelic to
be the first language taught to Gaelic children. But the larger
number of the friends of Gaelic desired English to be first taught,
and the Gaelic used for getting at the intelligence of the children
when reading English; and afterwards they wished the Gaelic
language and literature to be introduced to the children when
they had mastered the mechanical difficulties of reading, and were
able to enter into the meaning and spirit of what they read. He
belonged to this class, and begged of his good friend the "High-
lander," to put him in his proper place with regard to that question.
He could not, like that journal, wield a claymore, but he still
hoped to be able to use his dirk in the good cause. Then the
position of the Government had been misunderstood. The Govern-
ment was said to be an enemy to Gaelic, whereas the Code tended
to foster the Gaelic language. In the second and third standards,
intelligence could be tested in Gaelic and grants secured by this
means; so that even the Scotch Code was a friend to the cause.
The meeting of School Boards he had referred to did not succeed in
making it a "specific subject" by which grants might be obtained
for Gaelic as a special study. It was for them to continue the
work' commenced by that meeting, by deputation and otherwise, if
they wished their very just and reasonable demands to be granted.
If the teaching of Gaelic was to be fostered, he recommended its
friends to adopt the suggestion of Professor Blackie, and to com-
pile a book of Gaelic extracts, gathering into it choice selections of
their literature, their poetry, their proverbial philosophy, folk lore,
&c., for the purposes of education in schools. This would do more
than anything else to foster Gaelic teaching, and it would be a

Annual Supper. 51

good work for the Society to take in hand. Another thing they
could do was to offer prizes for the study of Gaelic, in conjunction
with all the other Highland societies they knew, and with the
assistance also of another Society whose business it was to foster
Gaelic studies, namely, the Northern Meeting of Inverness, from
all of whom they might get donations, which would enable them
to offer prizes, not merely in one, but in almost every school in
the Highlands. They might also conduct examinations in Gaelic
all- over the Highlands, similar to those held in ordinary subjects
by the Inverness, Ross, and Nairn Club ; let these examinations
be general, and they would have taken a good step in the direc-
tion they wished to go. These hints he begged to throw out for
their consideration, and he hoped the Society would continue to
prosper and succeed in its various objects and efforts.

Mr Murdoch, of the "Highlander," in giving "The Immortal
Memory of Ossian," remarked that, after all that had been written
lately on the subject, he would steer clear of criticism; and,
believing that the name of Ossian was engraven on the many
hearts of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, he would merely refer
to a few historical facts, which should stand clear above all the
mists which have been raised about Macpherson. He would go
back beyond the era of mere criticism and cavil. He had else-
where endeavoured to draw " The Heroes of Ossian " out of that
mist, and present them as distinctly before the mind's eye as
Wallace or Bruce; and Signer Priolo, an Italian artist in London,
had given to a large number of those heroes an imperishable place
on canvas and on steel. He referred to Priolo's beautiful work,
" Illustrations from Ossian." After so much criticism, Ossian
himself would almost require to be drawn out afresh, and made
to stand before us without Macpherson as his stepfather. It is
true that that Goth, the English Edward, carried away the most of
our early records, and we have little but tradition remaining to
shed light on Highland themes. But what else were the oldest
histories till they were written 1 We have our traditions ; but
an English education is busy finishing the Vandal work begun by
Edward. Tradition tells us that Ossian was a great warrior bard ;
the son and father of warriors and bards; that he lived in the
end of the third and beginning of the fourth century; that he
was the son of Fionn and grandson of Cumhal; that he was the
father of Oscar the brave, and of Fergus the sweet-toned; and
cousin of Caoilte, famous for his fleetness, and known also as a
bard. And although, as he .said, we have no records of these
facts, there are records in Ireland which bear out our traditions.

52 i Transactions.

"The Annals of the Font Masters," the greatest chronological
work at this day in Europe, confirms our traditions. So do
several of the ancient MSS. now publishing by the Government —
Leabhar-na-h-uidhre, the Book of Leinster; the Book of Lecain;
the Uinnsenchas, to which you will find many references in the
" Ancient Institutes of Ireland," also now being published by the
Government. Then the events and the characters which figure
in the poems of Ossian, are positively historical; and now, we
have in Dr Waddell's " Ossian and the Clyde," and in his letters
since published, the most remarkable proofs of the topographical,
and I hold of the historical accuracy, even of those poems which
were given to the world by Macpherson. Dr Waddell has identi-
fied numbers of the places mentioned in the great epics, as clearly
as Dr Porter has the topography of Joshua and Jeremiah amid
the giant ruins of Bashan. The full value of this proof is not
realised till we note that it comes out in some places con-
trary to what it is evident Macpherson himself intended ! When
speaking of the poems of Ossian, we must not forget that
there are so-called " Ossianic poems " which bear the legendary
stamp on the face of them. Among the most venerable of these
are the dialogues between Ossian and St Patrick — persons who
lived two hundred years apart. But these ballads are valuable ;
for in them are woven up the names, the events, and the scenes in
the veritable Ossianic poems. As the people of Ireland would
not relinquish their faith in Ossian, the clerics made use of him to
convey useful information regarding their country. These in-
structors were wiser than those in this country, who tried to
stamp out the poetry and the very language in which Ossian sang;
and our youth will not have fair play, our literature will not have
its proper place in our own land, and education in the Highlands
will not be free from a large amount of sham, until Ossian, and
Donnacha, Ban, and Mac Mhaighsteir Alastair, shall have been
assigned a place in our schools above that occupied by Scott, or
Macaulay, or even Tennyson. But there is another value in the
ballads ; they show that there was an antecedent substance, of
which they are the shadow, a genuine coinage, of which they are
the counterfeits. I shall not wait to dwell on the other spurious
compositions which were intended, after the bards had fallen into
disrepute, to cast ridicule even on Ossian; but pass on to say,
that setting these to the right and to the left of us, we see between
the two that beautiful ray of poetic light which has come down
through these 1500 years to us, and which, notwithstanding an
objection here and a cavil there, is actually now assigned a place

Annual Supper. 53

in the great ball of English Literature! Yes; in the " Library of
English Literature" now issuing from Cassell's establishment, in
London, the first specimens of English literature are taken from
the poems of Ossian ; and thus that lamp which Dr Johnson was
to have extinguished is now burning as a sort of sacred light on
the altar of English literature itself! All honour to Professor
Morley, who has had the candour to place the Celtic bard at the
head of British literature! English, Irish, Scotch, and Italian,
then, will join us Highlanders, in celebrating the, >" Immortal
Memory of Ossian."

Mr W. G-. Stuart recited Professor Blackie's spirited verses,
" A Vision of Ossian and the Celtic Chair." Thereafter,

Dr F. M. Mackenzie proposed "The Ladies," and in the course
of his remarks expressed a hope that at next supper they would
have the happiness of having ladies among the company. He
coupled the toast with the name of Dr Macnee, who replied.

Mr A. Mackenzie, of the "Celtic Magazine," said — Mr Chairman,
croupiers, and gentlemen, the toast which has been entrusted to me
is one which I am delighted to propose; but no one feels more
than myself how utterly incapable I am to do it justice. " Pro-
fessor Blackie and the Celtic Chair " is a most appropriate toast at
a meeting like this, and I am much mistaken if it does not become
one which will be as regularly proposed at all future meetings of
Celtic Societies as the " Immortal Memory of Burns " is now at
all Saint Andrew's and other Scottish meetings throughout the
world. "Professor Blackie" and the "Celtic Chair." have now
become synonymous and inseparable terms. Great as the Professor
is as a distinguished scholar, great as he is likely to become as a
" Reformer of the Pulpit," admired as he is as a linguist and as a
poet, he will be greater still, and more universally famous as a
noble patriot. It is as the founder and able advocate of a chair of
the Celtic languages in one of the Universities of Scotland that his
name will go down to posterity. He, by his laudable and patriotic
efforts, will wipe out for ever the disgrace so long endured by the
Celt at the hands of his Anglo-Saxon rulers. As certain, how-
ever, as they on all occasions failed to conquer us with the sword,
they will, now that we have the aid of Professor Blackie and such
men, fail to crush us out of existence as a people, fail to obliterate
our language, and fail to rob future generations of the chivalry,
heroism, and ennobling sentiments preserved in our Celtic litera-
ture. Our soldiers and sailors have been imbued by these virtues,
and, in consequence, their deeds have added lustre not only to the
Highland character, but made the annals of the British people

54 Transactions,

illustrious throughout the world. Let us get fair play, then. Let our
literature — our songs and our Ossian — go down to posterity in the
healthy and invigorating light of a Celtic Professorship, and no one
need fear that our successors will be less imbued than our ancestors
were with the spirit of daring and devotion which has already added
so much glory to our common country. Professor Blackie, not being
a Highlander himself, is proof against the charges of negative
Highland bigotry and local prejudice, which would have been so
effectively hurled against one of ourselves ; even had we one
amongst us with the same ability, perseverance, and high-souled
patriotism possessed by our redoubted Lowland champion. He
had the courage to speak out for the Celt and his literature
when many of ourselves who had influence, and who naturally
might have been expected to exercise it in defence of the character,
language, and literature of our ancestors, " sold their birthright
for a mess of pottage " to south country newspapers and periodi-
cals. When these men shall all have beeu forgotten, Professor
Blackie's fame will go down as the disinterested defender of the noble
language of a chivalrous though despised people, and his name will
be cherished and admired by future generations of Celts all over
the world, second only to Ossian himself. In this connection, and
at a meeting like this, it is worthy of note to remark how the
wind has been veering round in favour of our great masterpiece
of Celtic literature. In the past we had Highlanders defending
Ossian against the Southron. We now have the tables turned, and
find the three who are admittedly the first, ablest, and the most dis-
tinguished literary men of the age in Scotland — Professor Blackie,
George Gilfillan, and P. Hately Waddell — not only defending the
ramparts, but carrying the war into the camp of the enemy, who is
supported, I regret to say, by deserters who had on previous
occasions done good service for their country and kindred. Now,
gentlemen, let there be no uncertainty as to the sound to be sent
forth from this representative and influential meeting as to the
duty of all to support the work that these men are engaged in.
Let the Highland clergy, who have as yet done practically
nothing to gather funds for the Celtic Chair in their official
capacity, beyond according Professor Blackie an empty reception
at their respective General Assemblies, when he waited upon
them to secure their influence in favour of his patriotic scheme,
bestir themselves on behalf of this Chair. Let us have collections
in every church, in every parish, and make the reception accorded
at the Assemblies a real one. Let the clergy here work in
sympathy with their people, secure by so doing their hearty good-

Annual Supper. 55

will, and greater liberality even for the schemes of their respective
churches will thereby be insured. Let the committee appointed
in the town of Inverness go to work with a will, and canvass
the districts allotted to the different sub-committees. Let the
Town Council, on the motion of our Clachnacuddin Provost, show
a good example to the citizens by voting a subscription from the
Corporation funds of the Highland Capital.* Let " Highlanders
abroad" save their less enthusiastic and patriotic countrymen at
home from this blot on the escutcheon of their native land, as
" Scotchmen abroad" a few years ago, in consequence of an ap-
peal in the London Scotsman, had done to their less patriotic
countrymen at home, when they sent home over £3000 to com-
plete the Wallace Monument, which for years had stood a stand-
ing monument to Scotland's ancient glory and modern Scottish
niggardliness. —

" Now here's to the honest, and leal, and true,

And here's to the learned and wise,
And to all who love our Highland glens,

And our Bens that kiss the skies,
And here's to the native Celtic race,

And to each bright-eyed Celtic fair,
And here's to the Chief of Altnacraig,

And hurrah for the Celtic Chair !"

" Professor Blackie and the Celtic Chair," gentlemen, with High-
land honours. (The toast was then drunk with great enthusiasm.)

Mr Charles Mackay gave the "Provost, Magistrates, and
Town Council of Inverness," to which the Provost replied.

A Gaelic song was then sung by Mr Hugh Fraser.

Bailie Noble, in proposing the toast of " Kindred Societies,"
said his toast needed no introduction, 110 eulogium. I shall, he said,
only mention the names of a few of them. In England there is
the Gaelic Society of London, which has long stood forward as the
champion of the Gaelic language, the honourable representative of
the Celtic race in the great metropolis, and of which one of our
own life members and best friends — the late lamented Dr Halley
— was an ornament. (Applause.) Of the present members, the
most honourable mention should be made of the present Chief,
John Cameron Macphee; of the past Chief, Colin Chisholm; and

* The Town Council has since unanimously voted £25, on the motion of
the Provost, to the Celtic Chair Fund.

56 Transactions.

of the present excellent Secretary, John Forbes ; and whilst among
the members, I should not pass over the name of R. J. Tolmie.
It is due from us to mention that long before any one else hoped
to see the realisation of such a thing, the Gaelic Society of London
laboured hard and intelligently for the establishment of a Chair
of Celtic Literature ; and it has worked vigorously since the move-
ment has been taken up by Professor Blackie. (Applause.) The
Club of True Highlanders, of which the veteran historian of the
Celts, James Logan, was always a prominent member. In Bir-
mingham we have an energetic Highland Society, with some of
the best " Highlanders from home " as members. Speaking of
kindred societies in England, we owe more than a mention of the
various societies among our brethren the Welsh, who have done
so much to preserve the language and literature of the Kelts, and
who have set us so noble an example. In Glasgow, there are the
Celtic Society, the two Ossianic Societies, and among those which
have come to the front of the Celtic Chair movement, the Skye
Association, the Islay Association; and the Comunn Gaidhealach,
which has, among much good work, got up Saturday evening
Gaelic concerts. In Edinburgh, we have the Inverness, Ross, and
Nairn Club, which has given special attention to Highland educa-
tion; the Sutherland Association there has done the same thing;
and from year to year we have most gratifying reports of the
examinations in the Highlands, and the distributions of the prizes
given by these societies to Highland youths who exhibit proficiency
in Gaelic and other branches. Coming near home, we have the
Lome Ossianic Society, which has shown itself to be animated by
the true Highland spirit, and which has had the taste to intro-
duce intellectual elements into its annual gala, and given prizes
for the best poetical compositions.. The Lome Society has set an
example in two respects which should be taken. Other localities
should have their Celtic Societies, and Kingussie, Inveraray, Loch-
alsh, Portree, Stornoway, Lochmaddy, and so forth, should have
similar organisations; and both the present and the future societies
should, I venture to think, give more prominence to such literary
objects as have claimed so much of the attention of our own
Society. The language and the folk-lore of our race should have
immediate attention; and the materials thus collected will, as
Dr Maclauchlan said the other night in Edinburgh, be the real
means of solving the questions over which mere critics spill so
much ink. Time would fail me to mention even the names of the
many societies of which the Kelts can boast. So I shall conclude
by asking you to drink the health of " Kindred Societies."

Annual Supper. 57

Mr Barren, of the Inverness Courier, proposed " The Highland
Clergy," coupled with the name of Rev. A. C. Macdonald, Queen
Street Church, and Rev. L. Maclachlan, Gaelic Church, Inverness.
Mr Macdonald replied in suitable terms in English, and

Mr Maclachlan, who replied in Gaelic, said^ — Fhir na cathrach
— Ceadaichibh' dhomh, ann an cainnt bhlasda mhilis ar duthcha
fein taing a thoirt dhuibh air son an doigh shunndach, chridheil
anns an d' bl sibh deoch slainte na cleir. Tha mi duilich nach
cuala mi ni's luaithe gu'n robh dleasnas de 'n t-seorsa so a' feitheamh
orm, 's gu 'm feuchainn ri facal no dha a chur an eagaibh a cheile,
ri'm b' fhiach dhuibh eisdeachd. Ach na their mi thig e o 'n
chridhe. Tha mi ro-thoilichte a leithid do chuideachd uasal,
ghasda fhaicinn a' cuartachadh a' bhuird. 'S ann tha a Ghailig a'
fas nis fasanta gach latha. Tre chaoimhneas na Ban Righ, 's le
saothair an duine ionnsaichte agus fhiosarach, an t-Ollamh Blackie,
tha choslas oirre eiridh a luaithre, agus a bhi beo n'is fhaide na
bha duil againn. Saoghal fada dhi.

" Bu mhor am beud gu'm basaicheadh,

A* chanain is fearr buaidh,
•u .'S is treis gu aobhar gaire,

'S is binne 's is blaithe fuaim."

Agus tha mi smaointeachadh gu bheil coir aig a leithid so do
choinneamh cuimhneachadh air a chleir Ghaidhealaich. Cha 'n
ann a mhain do bhrigh 's gu bheil iad a' searmonachadh ann an
Gailig, ach do bhrigh 's gu bheil roinn mor de na sgolairean Gailig
is fearr a tha beo ri'm faotainn 'n am measg. Tha aon fhear
marbh, ach ged tha cha'n urrainn dhomh gun iomradh dheanadh
air ainm oir tha e fathast a labhairt ruinn — an t-Ollamh Urramach
Tormaid Macleoid, Gaidheal gu ruig cnaimh an droma, agus b' e
"Caraid nan Gaidheal" gus an do ghlas a shuil sa bhas, agus an
do sguir a chuisle air bualadh. Feudaidh mi cuid de na sgolairean
Gailig 'sa chleir tha beo ainineachadh : — Dr Macleod sa Mhorain ;
Dr Cleireach, Chille-Mhailidh ; Stiubhardach, Bhun Lochabair;
Dr Maclachlainn, Dhuneidein;; Domhnull Mac lomnhuinn an
Duneidin, neach nach eil a searmonachadh, ach a chaidh tromh
gach ceum air son na dreuchd, agus a tha 'dearbhadh meud a
bhuaidhean inntinn, eolas is sar bheairtas ar cainnt, anns na
litrichean a tha e 'sgriobheadh do'n " Ghaidheal" air na Sean-
f hocail. Dh' anmichinn aon fhear eile, agus cha'n e bu choir bhi
air dheireadh, Alastair Ruadh Sgitheanach, an t-ollamh Griogarach
agaibh fein. Mar sin tha mi meas gu bheil coir aig a leithid so

58 Transactions.

do chomunn cuimhne chumail air a Chleir ; agus rinn sibhse sin
gu h-asal air an f heasgar so, agus gabhaibh ri 'm bhuidheachas air
son bhur caoimhneas. Mu'n suidh mi, tha mi guidhibh gach
beannachd do 'n chomunn so. Gun robh e fas ann an gliocas, an
eolas, agus ann am meud, mar is sine dh' f hasas e. Thu 'n rann
ag radh : —

" Tri aois coin, aois eich,
Tri aois eich aois duine,
Tri aois duine aois fireun
Tri aois fireun aois craobh dharaich."

Agus tri uairean tri aois craobh dharaich agus tuilleadh, ma
thogras sibh, gu'n robh aois Comunn Gailig Baile Inbhirnis. Se
run agus durachd mo chridhe gu 'm mair e agus gu'm bi e falain an
la chi 's nach fhaic.

The other toasts were — The health of the Chairman, proposed
by Bailie Noble ; the Croupiers, by the Chairman, as also the
Press, Mr Stewart of Biin, the Office-bearers of the Society, and
Non-resident Members. This brought the toast list to a close,
and the company broke up, having spent a very pleasant evening.

The following message was sent to Glasgow, in reply to the
telegram received by the Chairman: — "Bliadhna mhath ur do
Chomunn Gaidhealach Ghlaschu, a's moran diubh. Gu'm bu fada
beo gach neach agaibh ! Air 'ur slainte ! An latha 'chi 's nach
fhaic!"

20TH JANUARY 1876.

At this meeting, Mr Jonathan Nicolson, Birmingham, and Mr
P. G. Macdonald, Inverness, were elected ordinary members of
the Society. Thereafter, Office-bearers for 1876 were nominated.

27TH JANUARY 1876.

At the meeting on this date, the following gentlemen were
elected: — Major Grant, Glen-Urquhart, honorary; Hugh Shaw,
Castle Street, Inverness; Donald Macleod, Church Street, do.;
Rev. Lachlan Maclachlan, do.; Archibald Macmillan, Kaituna,
Havelock, New Zealand; William Douglas, Aberdeen Town and
County Bank, Inverness ; Donald Macdonald, Culcraggie ; Andrew
Mackenzie, Alness; Hugh Mackenzie, do.; William Mackenzie,
factor, Ardross; William Mackenzie, solicitor, Dingwall; Captain

Conlaoch. 59

Alex. Matheson, Dornie, Kintail; Christopher Murdoch, Kyle-
akin; Norman Macraild, Colbost; John Macraild, Laggan, Fort
Augustus ; and James Hunter, Glengarry — all ordinary members.
Thereafter, the Office-bearers were balloted for.

SD FEBRUARY 1876.

At the meeting on this date, the following gentlemen were
elected ordinary members, viz,, Lachlan Ferguson, Guisachan, and
Alexander Maclean, Abriachan; and after transacting some rou-
tine business, Mr William Mackay read an interesting paper in
Gaelic, entitled " Na Laithean a dh'fhalbh aim an Gleann Gaidh-
ealach."

10TH FEBRUARY 1876.

At the meeting on this date Mr Donald Dott, Caledonian
Bank, Inverness, was elected an ordinary member. Mr A. K.
Macraild presented the Society with a copy of Blackie's "Bio-
graphical Dictionary of Eminent Scotchmen." The other business
before the meeting was of a routine character.

17TH FEBRUARY 1876.

At the meeting on this date, the Secretary intimated that
Professor Geddes, Aberdeen, made a donation of copies of his
Lectures on Celtic Literature to the Society. Dr Farquhar
Matheson, Soho Square, London, was elected an ordinary mem-
ber. Mr Lachlan Macbean, Inverness, thereafter read a transla-
tion of

CONL AO CH.

The following is a translation from one of the Gaelic poems
preserved since about the beginning of the sixteenth century in the
Book of the Dean of Lismore. In that collection it is ascribed to
Gillecallum Mac an Ollaimh, that is, Malcolm Macanolla or Mac-
inally, or the son of the Doctor. The translation is as literal as
possible, and more faithful to the original than any translation of
this piece which I have yet seen. JS^S^

The foundation of the poem is as follows. Cuchullin,|when a

young man, went to receive his training at a celebrated institution

in Skye. While there, he gained the affection and confidence of a

60 'Transactions.

native lady. His education being completed, he returned to his
castle of Dundalgin, forgot his sweetheart of Skye, and married the
daughter of a certain Forgan. Meanwhile, the deserted maiden
gives birth to a child whom she names Conlaoch. Him she trains
to the use of arms, and, charging him to tell no man who he is,
sends him out to fight for his own right hand. It is thought that,
like the mother of Hiawatha, her object in sending him out was
that he might meet his father and revenge her wrong. The poem
shows the sequel.

Mr J. F. Campbell of Islay mentions a MS. in the Advocates'
Library which contains another, and I presume a prose, version of
this story. He says it •" sends Cuchullin first to Scotland to learn
feats of agility from Doiream, daughter of King Donald, hence to
Scythia p Skia or Skye], where a seminary is crowded with pupils
from Asia, Africa, and Europe. He beats them all, goes through
wonderful adventures, goes to Greece, returns with certain Irish
chiefs, arrives in Ireland, and is followed by his son, a half Scythian
p Sgiathanach], whom he kills at a ford." The chief incident is of
frequent recurrence in Celtic poetry and folk-lore. The tale of
Carthon given in Macpherson's Ossian is a good example. Signer
Prioli, in his "Illustrations from Ossian," gives two pictures il-
lustrative of that story. The first shows Clessamor's ship borne
away by the heartless winds while his young bride is left wringing
her hands on the shore. The second represents the fatal fight be-
tween Clessamor and his son, whom he had never seen before.

Dr Maclaucblan, editor of the Book of the Dean of Lismore,
mentions a Persian tale, "Zohrab andRustum," closely resembling
the story of the "Death of Conlaoch. "-

I have heard an ancient story,
Heard a doleful, plaintive legend ;
Now 'tis meet to tell it sadly,
Though it fill our hearts with sorrow.

Firmly grasping sons of Ruri,*
Race of Connor and of Connal,
Swift to take the field their young men
In the Pentarchy of Ulster.
None came to his house contented,
None of all the men of Banva,t

* Ruri. — " Glann Rughraidh, a powerful race who occupied the province of
Ulster at an early period after having expelled the Clann Deaghaidh or the
Dalcassians, afterwards of Munster." — Dr Maclauchlan.

t Banva or Banba, according to Irish writers, was of old a name for Ireland.

Conlaooh. 61

For in trying one more battle,
Ruri's race had been victorious.

Fierce of mien, there came a •warrior,
Came the dauntless hero, Conlaoch,
Came to see our beauteous country,
Came to Erin from Dunscaich.*
Connor thus addressed the others —
" Who will meet the youthful hero *?
Who will ask him of his story 2
Ask him, and take no refusal f '
Then went Connal, arm of vigour,
To demand the young man's story.
Having met the hero's onset,
He was seized and bound by Conlaoch.
Yet the hero would not rest him,
Fearless Conlaoch, fierce of manner,
Till a hundred of our people
He had bound, though strange to tell it !
From the wise High-king of Ulster
There was sent a message-bearer
To the chieftain of the Conni,
To the Knights' renowned chieftain;
To Dundalgin,t fair and sunny,
The old fortress of the Gael,
That wise stronghold that we read of,
And to Forgan's prudent daughter.
Thence came he of deeds of valour
To our country's generous monarch,
To the people of green Ulster,
Came the Cu-na-cruva-rua,
Came the Red-tree Knight to see us.
With white teeth and cheeks like berries
Came he in our need to help us.
" Long," thus to the Cu spoke Connor,
" Long has been thine aid in coming,
While the lover of bold war-steeds,
Valiant Connal, lies in bondage
With an hundred of our people."

Connal — " It is hard to be a captive,
Thou that helpest friends in trouble."

* Dunscaich was a famous stronghold in Skye, said to have belonged at one
time to Cuchullin. The ruins of it are yet to be seen,
f D.ml.ilyiH, (Dm Djiljf-iin) .vt> probably Dundalk.

62 Transactions.

Cti — " 'T were not wise to meet his weapon,
Seeing he has bound strong Connal."

Connal — " Think not to refuse to meet him,
Prince of keen, blue, gleaming sword-blades,
Arm that never failed in battle,
Think upon thy thong-bound patron."
When Ciichullin,* Knight of Cullin,
He of blades, thin-leaved and slender,
Heard strong Connal's lamentation,
Then he moved with arm of power,
To obtain the young man's story.

Gil — "Tell us, now we've come to meet thee,
Love, who fearest not the conflict,
Smooth-skinned youth of blackest eyebrow,
Tell us of thy name and country."

Conlaoch — " Ere I left my home I pledged me
That I'd never tell my story;
Could I tell it to another,
For thy love to thee I'd tell it.'1

C& — " Thou must meet me in the combat,
Or, as friend, relate thy story.
Take thy choice then, tender hair-lock,
But 'twere wise to shun my onset.
Let us not then join in anger,
Noble Leopard ! Pride of Erin !
Arm of valour in the battle !
I unbought would tell my story."
Then they bore against each other,
And no feminine combat had they,
Till the youth received his death-blow,
The hard-handed, valiant young man.
(Yet Ciichullin, Knight of Cullin —
He of fierce and hard-fought battles —

* Cuchullin' s name has been explained in various ways. Cu is the Gaelic for a
dog or hound. One Highland story purports to be an account of the manner in
which Cuchullin killed the watch-dog of a certain Cullin and had to act as watch-
dog himself, whence he was called Cu-Chulainn, the dog of Cullin. It is more
probable that this story was made to account for the name, and that cu here
means not a dog, but is the old Gaelic word for a knight or champion, preserved in
our word curaidh, a hero. There are Cullin mountains in Skye and in Ireland,
after either of which the knight might be called, or, what is more likely, he might
be called the knight of the holly (cuilinn) tree. The red-berried holly may have
been the "red tree " after which an order of knights were then called, and it is
certain that of this order Cuchullin was the head. Carbair who killed Oscar, the
Ossian, is said to have been a member of this order. Cuchullin lived in the first
century, and was thus two or three generations anterior to Ossian.

Conlaoch. 63

On that day was discomfited ;
His one son by him had fallen,
He had slain his son in anger,
That fair bough, so brave and gentle)

"Tell us," thus the clever Cu spoke,
Said the crafty Knight " Inform us,
Since thou'rt ever at our mercy,
Tell us fully name and kindred ;
Think not now to baulk our questicn."

" I am Conlaoch, son of Cu, and
Rightful heir of high Dundalgin.
It was I unborn thou leftest
When at Skia thou wert learning.
In the East seven years I tarried,
Gaining knowledge from my mother ;
And the only thing I wanted —
Wanted yet of all my training —
Was the pass by which I've fallen."

Then the great Cuchullin thinking,
While his dear son changed bis colour,
Thinking of his generous spirit,
Mind and memory forsook him,
And his sorrow almost severed
Life and beauty from his body,
Seeing, lying in the valley,
The brave hero of Dundalgin.

Great and difficult to speak of
Is the grief that is upon us !

I have heard an ancient story !

24TH FEBRUARY 1876.

At this meeting, Peter Burgess, factor, Glenmoriston, was
elected a life member of the Society; and Denis A. O'Leary,
Charleville, Cork, and Peter Fraser, collector, Beauly, ordinary
members. On the motion of Mr Murdoch, seconded by Mr Mac-
raild, the Society unanimously agreed to the following resolution,
and instructed the Secretary to send a copy thereof to Mr Dallas,
clerk to Dr Bell's Trustees, and to Provost Simpson : — " The
Gaelic Society of Inverness respectfully direct the attention of Dr

64 Transactions.

Bell's Trustees to the desirability of electing a gentleman to the
office of Rector of Farraline Park Institution, now vacant, who
(other qualifications being equal) is conversant with and able to
teach the Gaelic language."

SD MARCH 1876.

At this meeting, Thomas O'Hara, Inspector of National Schools,
Gort, Ireland, was elected an honorary member; Donald Ramsay,
Academy Street, Inverness, and Wm. Macdonald, Hilton, do.,
ordinary members; and Alexander Packman, Church Street, do.,
a junior member. Thereafter, the Secretary, in behalf of Mr
William Morrison, M.A., Dingwall, read the following paper, being

NOTES ON THE AFFINITY BETWEEN GAELIC
AND GERMAN.

It requires no small amount of fortitude, even in the present
day, to assert that Gaelic has even the remotest connection with
the great group of languages termed by German scholars the Indo-
Germanic. One must be prepared to withstand the ridicule not
only of the learned but the affected contempt of the illiterate.
The question of the antiquity of Ga,elic has been popularly rele-
gated to the region of amiable manias, valuable only as tending to
excite mirth, even in the minds of the frivolous and vain. One
of the strangest facts to explain is the contempt shown by men of
undoubted scholarship regarding the claims of the Celtic tongues
to rank as members of the great family of the European languages.
One of these scholars, Dr Latham, asks in despair what can be the
value of " Grimm's Law " as a principle in unravelling the tangled
web of these European languages, seeing it admits the Celtic
tongues into their community 1 Another, Max Miiller, asserts
dogmatically that "Celtic words may be found in German, Slavonic,
and even in Latin, but only as foreign words, and their amount
much smaller than is commonly supposed. A far larger number
of Latin and (German words have since found their way into
modern Celtic dialects ; and these have frequently been mistaken
by Celtic enthusiasts for original words, from which German and
Latin might in their turn be derived."

That we are not advocating a hopeless cause, we may learn from
the fact that men quite as eminent, though not now so much heard
of, have settled the question that the Celtic language has an

The Affinity between Gaelic and German. 6£

undoubted alliance with the Indo-Germanic stock. Dr Pritchard,
in his profound treatise " On the Eastern Origin of Celtic
Nationsj" has proved beyond doubt and above cavil, that the
Celtic has the highest claims to rank as a member of the great
Aryan family of tongues. Bopp, in his "Sanscrit Roots," gives
long lists of cognate Celtic words ; and the learned French philo-
loger and antiquarian, Terzon, expressed his conviction that "the
Teutonic is quite full of Celtic roots." To Dr Pritchard belongs
the honour of being the first to originate a critical investigation of
modern Celtic languages and their relationship to the other
branches of the European stock. So strongly has the claim of
affinity with the Teutonic family been asserted, that we find two
eminent German scholars crossing swords on the question. A
learned treatise by Yon Adolf Holzman, entitled "Kelten und
Germanen, eine historishe TJiitersuchung," published at Stuttgart
in 1855, is met by one equally erudite from the pen of Dr H. B.
C. Brandes, Leipzic, 1857. Dr Holtzman starts the strange
theory that Tacitus and the other ancient writers upon the early
German tribes were wrong in making the distinction between
Germans and Celts. He holds that the Germans are Celts, that
the Cymri and the Gaels are not Celts, and he maintains that the
political complications consequent on the great French Revolu-
tion, gave rise to the opinion that the Germans and Gauls were
essentially distinct nations, that both parties, in that time of fierce
passion, affirmed that nations so antagonistic in feeling must have
been ever dissociated in their origin. He is evidently forced to
this hypothesis by the fact that the ancient geographers termed
all Central Europe west of Scythia by the name Celtica. Dr
Latham, in his anxiety to deny community of origin to the Celtic
with other European tongues, is driven to the absurd theory, that
the numerals in Gaelic, which have an uncomfortable resemblance
to those of the other Aryan tongues, were imported by St Columba
from Latin into Gaelic. This is really sheer drivel, and unworthy
of a great man. However wide words expressive of other ideas
may have departed from the primitive ones, yet the simplicity, or
oneness of notion in our ideas of numeration, is surely a presump-
tion in favour of the similarity of the vocables expressive of num-
ber to be found in almost all tongues.

The mist is gradually uplifting from off the history and philo-
logy of the Celtic language, and the bold rugged forms are loom-
ing on inquiring minds as the mighty fragments of an earlier
world. The study of Gaelic has been criminally neglected, especi-
ally by those to whom it is known vernacularly; and now, per-

5

66 Transactions.

haps, that the sad fact is becoming more and more patent that the
venerable tongue is about to be reckoned among the dead languages,
some interest is excited in its study. The death of a language is
the death of all that is distinctive in the people who use it. The
strong individuality of Gaelic is well shown by its almost total re-
jection of exotic words, and as that characteristic arises, of course,
from the mental idiosyncrasy of the people who speak it, the
gradual abandonment of the language shows a corresponding
obliteration of the features of mind finding expression in that
language.

.That the Celts — I take the Gaelic or Irish tribes as the ad-
vanced column of the Celtic host who swept over the plains of
Europe from the East — have had a common origin in the great
cradle of the Aryan nations is an indisputable fact. The question I
propose is, what evidence have we of an affinity between nations so
' ethnographically distinct as the Celts and the Germans ? A cursory
view of the question is all that can be ventured upon, so as to
avoid the reflection that a mere beginner should have his hardi-
hood, in launching out on the tempestous sea of etymology, tem-
pered by discretion enough to acknowledge the difficulty of the
undertaking and the frailty of his bark. In reading the Germania
of Tacitus, one cannot fail being struck with the obscurity that
hangs over the pages of that proverbially clear-headed man's book
when he deals with the manners and situation of the German
tribes.

We have no difficulty whatever in understanding how it
happened that seas, rivers, and mountains should retain their
Celtic names, after the Celts were either driven further to the
west, or were absorbed in the German or Slavonic nations that
subsequently occupied their territories. For example, in the
opinion of competent scholars — Adelung for instance — the name
of the Rhine seems only another form of Rhodanus, and to be
connected with " Eridanus, Danube, Don, Tanais," &c., and signi-
fies in the Celtic " the water " or " the river." The " Danubius "
was commonly applied to that part of the river above Vienna ;
below that town it was called the Ister — the Dan (ister); both terms
being equivalent to the Gaelic or Celtic "upper" and "lower"
waters. The Celtic names of the German tribes are a sore puzzle
to philologists. Dr Latham looks at the Celtic elements in these
names with the strongest suspicion. Where Tacitus is explicit in
using the word " Gallica," for instance, as applied to a tribe called
the "Gothini," Latham, on account of his Celtophobia, attributes
to Tacitus a gratuitous mistake in believing that the tribe was

The Affinity between Gaelic and German. 67

Celtic at all, and not rather as Gallician or Slavonic. Again, he
will not allow the possibility of Celtic remnants being left among
the Teutons, as persistent pools, after the great tide of their Celtic
brethren fell back ; for, in such an instance as that of those termed
vaguely by Tacitus, " Gentes ^Estiorum," dwellers on the coast of
East Prussia, and of whom he expressly records that their language
was like that of Britain, Latham hazards the theory that the
" Britannica" of Tacitus was but a Latanised form of " Pryttisce"
or " Prutskaja" in its Slavonic form, and, in fine, that these people
were Lettish or Lithuanian.

When Latham meets names such as " Treveri," " Triboci," the
Celtic forms of the words, perhaps, do not convince him altogether
so much as the fact that St Jerome distinctly asserts regarding the
Treveri, that they spoke the language of the Galatae of Phrygia,
which we know to have been Celtic. These forms suggest the
Cornish ones found in such names as Trelawney, &c.

The origin of the name "German" has been a problem and
likely will remain so. Some would have the name from the
Gaelic, " gairm," to call, as signifying men who shouted in battle.
That could scarcely be distinctive of any people in the days
when " eveiy battle of the warrior was with confused noise and
garments rolled in blood." A better etymology is " Wehr-men " —
guards. We have the word in Anglo-Saxon, "Wer" — a man,
and in Moeso-Gothic, "aoir' — a man, evidently the Gaelic "fear,"
and the Latin " vir."

That Tacitus used the word " bard," instead of the German,
" scop" or "skald," as the name of the minstrels of those tribes
inhabiting ancient Germania, is surely an undesigned proof of the
prevalence of the Celtic language over Central Europe.

One of the greatest difficulties in the Germania of Tacitus, is
to explain who were the Cimbri. That these people occupied the
Cimbric Chersomiese is a settled point. That they were Celts is
highly probable, geographically isolated though they were from
their brethren. Their name being but a Latinized form of the
great Cymric branch of the Celts, and the description of their
manners by Plutarch, are surely sufficient to decide their identity
as a Celtic people. What is remarkable is that the Celtic word
"Cumaraice" means a place of valleys, and the name now given to
the Cimbric Chersonnese is Denmark, a word in the Anglo-Saxon
meaning "land of valleys," from "denu" and "mark." We need
have no difficulty in understanding how completely the Celtic
language once spoken in Denmark has disappeared. From the time
of Tacitus until the Jutes and Angles appear on the stage of

68 Transactions.

history, a period of migrations, absorptions prevailed all over
Europe. We have only to look back on our own country to see,
even in our neighbourhood, how thoroughly the Celtic or Gaelic
has been swept out of the district of Buchan, for instance, since
the date of the "Book of Deer."

So much for the historical connection of the Celts with the
Germans on the Continent. That many words have found their
way into German from the earlier Celtic settlers is highly pro-
bable, though of course what these are cannot now be determined
very accurately. That there are numerous words common to both
languages, modified indeed by the organic peculiarities of the races,
is an undoubted fact. To a casual observer who compares the
words found in a dictionary of each tongue, Gaelic, Anglo-Saxon,
or Modern German, the number of cognate words cropping up on
every page is striking, and deserves more than a mere expression
of astonishment. Apropos, to one learning a new language, it
surely is the most rational method, as well as the most pleasant,
to observe a family likeness in words spoken by peoples separated
by large lapses of time or vast tracts of space.

The etymology of words is not of itself a sufficient guide for
perceiving an affinity between two or more languages. We must
also have a comparison of their grammatical configuration. Un-
less attention be paid to that, we may be led into the wildest
vagaries, and be even inclined to shout that we have made a
discovery which, on further search, proves to be but a linguistic
mare's nest.

The grammar of Gaelic — at least the accidence, being so like
Hebrew, led inquirers, especially clergymen, for an obvious reason,
to classify Gaelic with the Shemetic group. Now, if words are
taken, the resemblance will not carry us to that group. The fact
that Gaelic, like the other Aryan languages, is characterised by an
organic root, expressive of a general idea, to which inflectional
additions give a specific meaning, and that such roots are not
necessarily characterised as three consonants without vowels, as in
the Shemetic tongues, is sufficient to place Gaelic in the Indo-
Germanic group. The following grammatical similarities may be
considered : —

I. In Gaelic, as in German, the cases of nouns soften the radical
vowel for the plural, or add " an," or a similar sound. The dative
plural is characterised by adding a labial inflection — "ibh" in
Gaelic; "um" in the old Norse and Anglo-Saxon.

The Affinity between Gaelic and German. 69

II. In the comparison of adjectives, if we take the irregulars
in Gaelic — for really they are the only adjectives compared — in
the case of the vast majority of Gaelic adjectives, so called, we
have nothing else than the genitive singular of the noun.

We have in Gaelic, as in Old High German and Anglo-Saxon,
two forms in the comparative, and these ending in " ra " and " sa "
for Gaelic; Old High German, "ro" and "za"; and in Anglo-
Saxon, "or," "re," and "se."

III. The pronouns, "me," "thu" or "tu," "bhur," are no doubt
from the same origin as the corresponding words in the German
dialects, as well as those in the classic tongues. I venture with
hesitation to classify the possessives under the two heads u ne "
and "s," as Latham does, though we have in Gaelic the "na" and
" sa " used as possessive encletics.

I Y. The verb " bi " in Gaelic has this one feature, at least, of
resemblance to the corresponding German verb, that the verb " be "
in its different forms is, in the early dialects, according to Jacob
Grimm, expressive of the future tense, and not of the present.

"We need not be surprised at the number of prepositions, con-
junctions, and other particles to be found alike in the Celtic and
Gothic tongues, for these words being but abruptions of a primitive
language, and expressive of the same modifications of ideas,
remained the same through the current of ages, however much
abraded and broken. Amongst the most striking are —

Gaelic, "ath" — again; "ed," Anglo-Saxon; and "id, "Gothic.
Gaelic, "'do"— with difficulty; "tor," Icelandic. The Anglo-
Saxon " ed," Latin " re," we have in " ed-nivian "— to renew : the
Gaelic "ath-nuadhachadh." The Gothic "idreigos" — repentance;
Gaelic, " aithreachas." The Anglo-Saxon "to" (Latin, dis; German,
zer ; and Iceland, tor) is used as a prefix with much the same force
as " do " is, do-labhairt — unspeakable.

The orthography of doubtful Gaelic words may be settled by
a knowledge of cognate words; for example, whether it be "do"
or " de." Stewart, in his admirable Gaelic Grammar, holds that
«do"— of, as in "do la," "by day," should be spelt "de," and
adduces the analogy of Latin in the phrase " de tertia vigilia and
de nocte." Now, in the northern languages, " to " and " at " mean
the same; in fact, in Icelandic, "to call" is "at-kalla," so that
the "de" in Latin may be rendered by "at" or "to"; hence
analogy as well as logic is in favour of " do " instead of " de." The
translators of the Gaelic Scriptures were therefore right in the
spelling of the particle " do."

70 Transactions.

I beg to append a list of Gaelic words taken at random, with
their equivalents in the German dialects.

GAELIC. ANGLO-SAXON. GERMAN.

Bagh — a bay Bige Bai

Balg — a bag Baelg Balg

Ball— a ball ... Ball

Bata— a boat Bat Boot

Beic- — a courtesy Big-an Bogen

Beic — a peak Pi'c Pick (provincial)

Beir — to bear Ber-an Ge-burt — a birth

Beum — a stroke, a Beam — a post, a wind Baum

stream, a knell ; e.g. instrument, a trum-

beum sleibhe, beum pet, a ray of light

sgeithe,beum soluis

Biceir — a cup . . . Becher

Blath— fruit * Blaed— a leaf Blat

Brug — a fort Brug. Burg Borh (Icelandic)

Clag— a bell Glocke

Carcair — a prison Care — a house of care
Casa — a cough Host Husten

Corn — a horn Horn Horn

Car — a turn Cyr

Grog — a book Cric — a crook

Croch — saffron * Crodh

Ceap-adh — to catch Cep-an — to catch
" Deas " — right or ... 0. H. German, ) right

south "Zeso." Go- V or

thic,"taisho" j south
Dragh — draw, drag, ... Er-trag-en

trouble

(Here it may be observed that the aspirate "h" in Gaelic is no
necessary part of the root, as it probably was unknown in early
Gaelic.)

Deachd Teach Zeichen

Poire — wood Treowa (a tree)

Gruaim — a frown Grim Grimmig

Gin-eadh — to give Acenn-an

birth
Glan— clean Claen

* Blowian — to bloom, different from blawian — to blow (as a wind)
* Greek, Kpo/cos— the crociw.

Highland Minstrelsy*

71

Geall— a pledge
Fill— a fold
Gne — kind
Im-lich
Stad — to stop
Sluagh, or rather

sluadh (judging

from Welsh)
Laoidh — a song
Slige— shell
Scallag — a servant
Goirid — short from )
Gearr — to cut J

G aid heal
Goil

Uilinn — the elbow
Teach — a house
Reachd — a statute
Radh — to speak
Run — mystery-secret,

e.g. ,run-chleirach —

a secretary

Tapaidh — brave

Geld— a fine
Feald
Kin, cen

Lick

Stand

Leod

Gelt-en
Falte

Lichen

Stand

Leute

Leoth
Scylle

Scale — a servant
Scort — short )
Sceran — to cut/
Weallas (foreigners)
Weallan — to boil up
Elna
Thaec
Riht
Raed

Run — secret letter,
the runes or hiero-
glyphic letters of
the Norsemen

Lied

Schell

Schalk — a rogue

Kurz

Welsch

Wellen

Ellen-bogen

Dach — a roof

Recht

Rath — counsel

Tapfer

9TH MARCH 1876.

At the meeting on this date, a number of books, presented by
Mr Craigie, Brechin, were produced. The thanks of the Society
were accorded to Mr Craigie for his valuable present, Mr Hugh
Rose, solicitor, read the following paper on

HIGHLAND MINSTRELSY.

So much has been written during the last eighty years on the
poetry, music, and literature of the Celtic race in general, and of
the Highlands of Scotland in particular, that it is impossible to
treat a subject such as this with any pretence to originality; and,
accordingly, I can only claim to have arranged in a somewhat
methodical form the gleanings of a course of reading in this and
kindred topics, in a form which may not be uninteresting to many

72 Transactions.

whose tastes incline in the same direction, and to have brought
into prominence certain local traditions and historical incidents
touching Highland minstrelsy, which may have escaped the notice
of some, and may be new to others.

When and by whom the melodies peculiar to the Highlands of
Scotland were composed, and how long they continued to be
handed down by tradition, are questions not easily answered.
Many of the airs were doubtless formed upon models of an early
period, probably from chants, choruses, and intonations of church
service. But whatever changes in the course of time may have
taken place in their form, it was undoubtedly from certain early
models that our Highland melodies derive their essential and
peculiar character. Apart from the poetry and the marked asso-
ciations connected with it, there is something striking in the music
of the songs. It is like no other music — its very strains betoken
antiquity.

It is an interesting but by no means an easy question to
answer whether the ancient melodies of Scotland were chiefly the
invention of an order of men who conjoined music with poetry,
who sung verses of their own composing to the harp ; or whether
they were composed and performed by mere instrumental per-
formers on the violin, the harp, the cruit, or three-stringed harp,
and such kind of instruments as were common throughout the High-
lands; who, like the Troubadours of old, wandered up and down the
country eking out an existence by reciting romances, sirging
songs and ballads to the harp, violin, &c., or whether they ori-
ginated among shepherds tending their flocks, who felt the senti-
ments of which pastoral songs are so expressive. Whatever may
have been the source of inspiration, it must be observed that a
certain similarity is readily traced more or less perfect between
the melody and the words, and that the spirit and genius of the
one must have inspired and awakened that of the other.

The rhythm and measure of a verse, together with the senti-
ment, often seem to carry intonation or air along with them,
for we never can commit the words of a song or ballad to memory
with the same naturalness and ease as when we have first become
familiar with the melody or air which re-echoed the words ; and,
on the other hand, it may be asserted with considerable show
of reason, that a favourite air is more likely to suggest or help one
through with the words.

Mr Tytler, in his History of Scotland, states that there can be
little doubt that in Scotland, as in France and England, the pro-
fession of a minstrel combined the arts of music and recitation,

Highland Minstrelsy. 73

with a proficiency in the lower accomplishments of dancing and
tumbling; and in the reign of David the First, at the Battle
of the Standard, fought in 1138, minstrels, posture-makers, and
female dancers accompanied the army. Further, he relates that
during the royal progresses through the kingdom, it was customary
for minstrels and singers to receive the sovereign at his entrance
into the different towns, and to accompany him when he took his
departure. The country, he savs, from a very early period, main-
tained a privileged race of wandering minstrels, who eagerly seized
on the prevailing superstition and romantic legends current at
the time, and wove them into rude, but sometimes very expres-
sive, verse, who were welcome guests at the gate of every feudal
castle, and fondly beloved by the great body of the people.

It is generally believed that the distinctive characteristics of
Highland music three or four centuries ago were not very different
from the traditional music of England, Ireland, and Wales, but
since that time the national music of those countries has under-
gone considerable change in consequence of the introduction of
harmony and chromatics, while that of the Scottish Highlands has
retained all its ancient peculiarities down to the present time.

Little is known of the structure and origin of these ancient
Highland melodies. Nearly all the songs composed for many
generations have been to airs of great antiquity, and we know
that when the bard betook himself to the composition of a song,
he invariably mentioned the name of some well-known popular
song and melody, in accordance with which the new song was to be
sung. It is thought that very few airs of any merit have been
composed in the Highlands for at least two hundred years, but
many old airs are believed to have been lost since the time when
emigration commenced. But in the present time every style of
musical composition, regardless of merit, is committed to the press
and preserved, while formerly, musical compositions, unless they
possessed great merit, or had a local interest connected with them,
were soon neglected and forgotten.

It is related by the Welsh Bishop Cambrensis, who flourished
in the 12th century, that standard models of poetry and music
were adapted by the bards and harpers to every circumstance of
importance in social life. These have existed for unknown ages
in the country, and the rhythm and measure of them have served
to guide the successive generations of minstrels; and though the
native harpers became extinct more than a century and a half
ago, the pipers have since contributed to preserve some of the
ideas which were associated with the use of the harp. For in-

74 Transactions.

stance, they used to say, " Ceud phort na h-Alba " — the first model
tune in Scotland ; " Dara port na h-Alba " — the second best tune
in Scotland, until all the models had been numbered and named.
In allusion to the keys in music, the old pipers used to say Nan
robh na h-iuchraichean agam shiubhlain an domhainn le buaidh,
that is, If I knew the keys, I could travel the world and win
every prize. There is hardly any distinction of keys on the bag-
pipe, and these ideas must have been adopted by the pipers from
the harpers, whose music is found to be in the regular keys and
modes of ancient tunes.

Again, the uniformity and strict similarity of the modes and
metres of many of the ancient Highland laments and elegies, and
other popular productions, composed at great intervals of time and
at places remote from each other, clearly demonstrate that in High-
land minstrelsy there was nothing done at random, but that there
was a design and system established at a remote period, which we
continue to recognise at the present day, and still adhere to, even
after the extinction of the bards.

Until within the last 300 years, it is believed that Scottish
music was but rarely committed to paper, but ifc has been ascer-
tained that among pipers and harpers, probably for many centuries
previous, a mechanical system of notation prevailed, though not
in writing sufficient to preserve the cadence and expression of
certain airs, and this system again tended greatly to preserve and
recall the melody itself.

But I pass from this part of the subject for the present, to
consider the scope of the instrumentality by which the music of
ancient Caledonia was fostered and transmitted to us, at least
such of it as has survived the turbulent periods of war. So far,
then, as minstrelsy had to do with the preservation and careful
transmission of original airs, there were three classes of musical
performers, who mainly, if not exclusively, treasured and kept
alive the favourite airs of the people — first, the harpers, with
their vocal airs ; second, the pipers ; and third, the performers on
the violin, or fiddlers, and their accompaniments. A few remarks
on the first of these, with special reference to the position assigned
to the harper, will probably illustrate this assertion.

The frequent mention of the harp in the older poetry of the
Highlands leads to the inference that the instrument was in high
esteem, and much cultivated among the people ; for such was the esti-
mation in which the harpers were held, that they were supported by
the voluntary contributions of communities, and often were put in
possession of certain portions of land as a reward for their services.

Highland Minstrelsy. 75

Nearly all the music in the Highlands appears to have at one
time been composed for the harp, the emit or three-stringed harp,
and the voice ; but from the period of the harp's cessation, before
the middle of the last century, it is probable that Gaelic songs and
recitations have not been sung with that truth and precision which
a musical accompaniment would have ensured to the singer. In
regard to common songs and elegies, &c., a succession of bards of
no mean ability has kept the spirit of song alive till our own day.
A great quantity of their poetry has been published, but much of
the music to which they were sung has not. The veil of obscurity
hangs over the early history of the harp in Britain, as well as in
the adjoining countries, and though it is stated by Roman authors
that instruments like lyres were in the hands of the Celtic bards
in Gaul, yet, as the lyres assumed so many forms in different ages
and countries, the only certainty is their having been stringed
instruments of music. Diodonis Siculas (A.D. 45) records that
"the bards of Gaul sang to instruments like lyres, praising some
and satirising others;" and Ammiamis Marcellinus (A.D. 390) in-
forms us that "the bards celebrated the brave actions of illustrious
men in heroic verse, which they sung to the sweet sounds of the
lyre." And on the authority of contemporary Roman authors
the British bards were said to be similarly engaged. The harp is
frequently mentioned in some of the oldest Gaelic poetry extant,
that of Ossian, for instance. The inartificial style of the poems
was adopted by many other ancient bards, it being a combination of
the heroic, hymnic, odic, dramatic, and narrative styles, sung either
as recitative or song, and all except a few susceptible of being sung
to the harp, and to different permutations of one form of melody.
St Columba and his clergy (A.D. 565) are said to have been per-
formers on the harp, but as Ireland claims them as her sons,
though residing in lona, I merely mention the fact without setting
up a claim for them as- native Highlanders. Bede gives us to
understand that, in the 7th century, the harp was so generally
played in Britain, that it 'was customary to hand it from one to
another at entertainments; and he speaks of one who was so
ashamed he could not play upon it that he slunk away for fear of
exposing himself. The harper invariably accompanied his lord or
patron, whether on a mission of war or peace, and it would appear
that such was the confidence reposed in him, that he was permitted
to enter the private apartments of his master. This intimacy was,
however, on several conspicuous occasions seriously misplaced, for
we are informed by the historian Buchanan, that Eocha, one of the
early Kings of Scotland, was killed by a harper who lay in his bed-

76 Transactions.

chamber. That must have happened in the end of the 8th cen-
tury. From a Gaelic MS., containing memorabilia of Inverness,
and quoted by Sir Walter Scott in the " Lord of the Isles," we
learn that Donald, Lord of the Isles, was murdered by his own
harper at Inverness, hi the year 1 385, after the memorable mis-
fortune which followed his incursion into Athole. It is said by
the historian of King James I. (Meagor) that, "on the harp,
he excelled the Irish or the Highland Scots, who are esteemed
the best performers on that instrument." Again, he says of
the Highlanders, "For instrumental music in the accompani-
ment of the voice they make use of the harp, on which they
perform most sweetly." Queen Mary's harp and the Caledonian
harp, which were discovered in the possession of the family of
Robertson of Lude, in Perthshire, in 1805, are supposed to be
favourable specimens of such instruments as were in use cen-
turies previously. The latter of these was brought by a lady
on her marriage into the family of Lude about the year 1460,
and it remained there until presented, along with the former in-
strument, by their possessor, Robertson of Lude, to the Highland
Society of Scotland early in the present century. John Garve
Maclean of Coll, who lived in the reign of King James the
Sixth and that of his successor, was a performer and composer
on the harp, and two of his compositions are still extant. James
Grant of Sheugly, in Glen-Urquhart, the author of a song describ-
ing a contest between the violin, pipe, and harp, for superior
claims to public favour, Jived in the 17th century. He was a
performer on all these instruments, and a poet, but few of his
compositions are extant, or even mentioned. Very few of the
Highland lairds or high churchmen in the 15th and 16th centuries
but retained harpers. The following is an extract from the will
and testament of John Campbell, Bishop of the Isles, of date 4th
October 1585, preserved in the archives of Caw dor Castle. After
a number of other legacies occurs the following, viz. : —

" I laif to David Macfeye, harper, by (besides) his hundred
pounds I awcht him with the fye (fee) Sax lib.

(Signed) "Jo. B. oflhyles."

This Bishop was successor to the memorable Bishop Carswell,
who had, in the dedication of his catechism, complained that the
Highlanders paid more attention to idle tales, and songs of Fin
MacCuthaill and Goll MacMoirne, than to the Word of God.

The family of Mackenzie of Gruinard, in Wester Ross, were

Highland Minstrelsy. 77

celebrated performers on the harp for many generations. The
family of Mackenzie of Applecross not only were performers, but
famed as patronizers of that instrument. In the 17th and 18th
centuries, when the harp was beginning to decline iu Scotland,
Irish harpers continued to make their appearance. One of these
paid a visit to Mackenzie of Applecross, who was so pleased with
his performance that he gave him a handful of gold out of his
right hand and a handful of silver out of his left. On returning
to Ireland, and being asked whose was the most liberal hand he
had found in Scotland, he said the right hand of Applecross, and
being further asked whose was the next best, he said — " the left
hand of Applecross." John Macdonald, the Keppoch bard, other-
wise called Iain Lorn or Manntach, composed a song on the Duke
of Gordon during the exile of Charles the Second, in which the
following lines occur : —

" Bha mi eblach a'd thalla,
Bha mi steach ann ad sheomar
Bhiodh ann iomairt air thaileasg
A's da chlarsach a' co' stri.

"I was acquainted in your hall, and have been into your
chamber. It was customary to play at chess, and to have two
harps playing in emulation." One of our last harpers was blind
Laehlan Mackinnon, of Skye, who died only in the 18th century.
Many of the Highland Lairds were not only patrons of the
harpers, but they themselves excelled in the performance of that
instrument. For instance, some of the Lairds of Macleod had a
practical knowledge of the instrument. The ancient family of
Hose of Kilravock have been distinguished for their musical taste
from time immemorial. At what period they adopted the harp as
their family crest is unknown, but our oldest heraldic records ex-
hibit it as such, and we may infer that the instrument was held at
one time in high estimation and cultivated in the family. In a
song, made in various metres, by the bard James Macgregor, com-
plimentary to the Laird of Grant, before the disuse of bows and
arrows, he says it was customary in the evenings to have the music
of harps in his mansion. In the accounts of the Lord Treasurer
for Scotland, from 1136 to 1548, a period of 112 years, it is re-
corded that over 50 payments had been made to individual harpers
whose names are given, besides payments to whole groups of
minstrels.

The following is a list of noblemen and others in the Highlands,

78 Transactions-

three centuries ago, who retained harpers : — The Duke of Argyll
retained two harpers, 1503 ; the Laird of Balnagown, one, 1502 ;
a harper at Glenluce, 1505 ; the Thane of Calder, one, 1502 ; two
harpers at Strathfillan, 1502 ; one at the Kirk of Balquither,
1502 ; a harper at Dingwall, 1506 ; Maclean of Lochbuy's harper,
1506 ; the Bishop of Ross's harper, 1506 ; the Bishop of Caith-
ness's harper, 1506 ; the Earl of Sutherland's harper, 1507 (whose
name was Donald Maclean).

In the poems of Ossian, and frequently in Gaelic songs, we
find frequent mention made of the harp and the estimation in
which harpers were held. There was a vast mass of Gaelic poetry
composed before the extinction of the harp, which speaks with
rapture of the delight the people took in that instrument. The
poetry and the song of the bards, a)id the harmonious tenderness of
the music of strings which accompanied the rehearsal of their verse,
were highly conducive to that generosity of sentiment and suscep-
tibility of feeling so conspicuous in the poetry of Ossian.

It may be interesting to know that there are many memorials of
the former existence of harpers in different parts of the Highlands.
In the Isle of Skye occur the following — "Baile 'chlarsair," or the
harper's town ; " Inneal a' chlarsair," the harper's instrument, a hill
in the parish of Waternish ; "Gualainn a' chlarsair," the harper's
shoulder, the shoulder of a hill in the parish of Snizort; " Cnoc a'
chlarsair," on the estate of Kilcoy, or the harper's knoll. There
is a field in Mull called Fan mor nan clarsairean — the harper's
field — and a window in Duntulm Castle called the harper's
window. The tradition about the place is that a harper dwelt
there. There is an inn in Ross-shire called the Tarradale Inn.
The site on which it is built is called Carn a' CMarsaii, the
harper's cairn. A cairn of stones formerly stood there, said
to have been raised to commemorate the death of a harper who
was murdered by a band of robbers whom he accidentally met
in the night time. It is said they were urged to this cruel
act by fear that he might give information against them. This
happened at a period when small water-mills were being introduced
into the Highlands. The story goes that " Ian Dubh a' ghiubhais,"
or Black John of the Fir, who was an ancestor of Mackenzie of
Ord, took umbrage at the Laird of Tarradale, and resolved to do
him an injury. He proceeded at midnight with a band of gillies
to Tarradale, and stole the apparatus of a mill, and, coming along
with their spoil, they overtook the wandering harper on their way,
near where the inn of Tarradale now stands, and cruelly murdered
him on the spot. It is further said that " they planted the ap-

Highland Minstrelsy. 79

paratus of the mill where the mill of Ord Stands at the present
day, and there never has been a mill at Tarradale since." This in-
cident may lead to a knowledge of the period. The field adjoining
the site of the cairn is called Achadh a chlarsair, the harper's
field, it is supposed from its proximity to the scene of the murder.
There is a stone pillar at Nigg, in Ptoss-shire, said to be of ancient
erection, having the figure of a harp engraved on it. There is
another pillar near Brechin ha,ving the figure of a harp. There is
another figure of a harp on Dupplin Cross, in Perthshire, where
the harper is represented as sitting on a chair behind the instru-
ment in the act of performing.

Roderick Morrison, or Rory Dall, a blind man, was, perhaps, the
last harper of any note or respectability. He was bard and harper
to the Laird of Macleod at Dunvegan Castle, and died early in the
eighteenth century. He was the son of the Rev. Colin Mackenzie,
Episcopal minister in the Island of Lews ; and Mr Macdonald,
in his essay on Highland music, observes that he was born a
gentleman, and lived on that footing in the family of Macleod.
He was well-educated, but having lost his eye-sight from small-pox
when at school in Inverness, he betook himself to the harp, and
became an excellent performer. Murdoch Macdonald, a pupil
of Rory Dall's, was afterwards bard or harper in the family of
Maclean of Coll, where he remained till 1734. Six of Morrison's
songs and elegies have been published, and are said to possess great
merit. The airs of these songs are well-known in the Highlands
and Islands. They differ from the vulgar tunes called " Ports,"
some of which are ascribed to Morrison, to procure populaiity
and sale for them, but it is doubtful whether he ever composed any
of them. A brother of Roderick's, named Angus, once Curate
of Contin, in Ross-shire, was born in the Lews about the year
1651, and died at Contin. His grave is still shown near Strath-
peffer.

The three-stringed cruit was also at one time common in the
Highlands, but the violin, from its superior power and capacity as
an accompaniment, has long superseded it.

In an old Gaelic poem, "Sitheal Caoilte," from the recitation
of Allan Dall Macdougall, we have the following lines : —

" Cruit bhuidhe fhonnmhor air thri tend,
Clar liomh fo shoillse na 'n seud."

" The yellow tuneful crowd with three strings,
The harp refulgent with glancing gems."

80 Transactions.

In Mackenzie's report on the poems of Ossian, we have the follow-
ing observation on the cruit or crowd : —

" Cruit is the name of a stringed instrument, used of old in
Scotland and Ireland, which was the same with the Welch crwdd
or crwth.

"For a long time past it has been confined to North Wales, so
that the people of that part of the Principality have been accus-
tomed to consider it as being exclusively their own."

" Bu lionmhor cruit agus clar,
B'iomadh bard a sheinneadh sgeul."

" Many were the crowds and harps,
Many the bards to sing the tale."

In the parish of Urray, Ross-shire, there is a farm called Cruit-
ach, or the crowder's land. In Perthshire there is a corrie men-
tioned by the Bard Duncan Macintyre, in two of his songs called
Coir a chriutear — the crowder's corrie.

The Macmhuirichs were bards and seanachies to Clanranald
for three hundred years, and had been employed in the same office
by the Lords of the Isles long before the family of Clanranald
arose. Achndh nam bard, the bard's field in Troternis, was held
by Duncan Macruari, from Sir James Macdonald. His successor
was John Maccodrurn, many of whose compositions are extant.
A rock in the vicinity of Dingwall is called Craiyabhaird — the
bard's rock.

With reference to the modes of tune adopted by the Highland
harpers, it may be observed that "teud," a musical string, meant or
represented a mode, tone, or tuning. It is believed that a certain
string was selected as the most suitable for each song or melody ;
for frequent allusions are made in Gaelic poetry to " Teud an dan,"
the string of the song or poem, and also to " Teud a chiuil," the
string of the melody or music, just as we speak of keys. A bard
calls his lover —

Leigh mo cheille 's teud mo dhan —

Restorer of my reason and string of my song.

Mo theud ciuil 's gach ait am bithinn —
My string of melody wherever I am.

Bu bhinne na teud chiuil a guth —

More melodious than the string of melody her voice.

Rob Donn. 81

The harpers again were fond of exercising on what is now
termed the major mode or key, as distinguished from the minor.
From a preference given to the former, it was called uLur-ghleus,"
that is the string or sound of power. The practice of adducing
variations from tunes in that mode is alluded to by the bard in
the following quotation : —

" Am bricein beth a's lub air,
'Se gleusadh lu a theud —
" The linnet with curved neck,
Playing on lu his string."

On a future occasion I shall conclude my observations on the
harp, and refer to the change in Highland minstrelsy by the
introduction and continuance of the bagpipe as a national instru-
ment, &c.

30TH MARCH 1876.

At the meeting on this date, Mr John Mackay, of Ben-Reay,
Montreal, read the following paper on

BOB DONK

In the extreme North of Scotland there is a large district of
country which, from a period beyond the reach of history, has
been inhabited by the Clan Mackay, and in common parlance is
known as the Reay country. It took this name from Sir Donald
Mackay, one of the most celebrated Chiefs of the Clan, who was
raised to the peerage in 1628, as Lord Reay. This territory is
upwards of sixty miles in length, and of an average breadth of about
twenty-four miles, and comprehends the extensive parishes of
Reay, Farr, Tongue, Durness, and Eddrachillis. In other words,
it occupies about three-fourths of the county of Sutherland and a
small part of Caithness, its area being over 900,000 acres.*

In the very heart of this country, there was born in the year

* Although the whole of this extensive district passed into the hands of the
Sutherland family about forty years ago (in 1837), it is still called, and probably
will continue to be called the Reay country for ages to come.

82 Transactions.

1714, a man, who is better known in the North Highlands at the
present day than any other individual who has appeared in the
country during the past two or three hundred years ; and who
was to the North Highlanders, as his contemporary Duncan Ban
Macintyre was to the South Highlanders, what, half-a-century
later, Robert Burns became to the Lowlanders of Scotland — the
poet of the people.

Robert Mackay (the individual referred to), or Rob Donn as he
was commonly called, was the son of a humble but worthy couple,
Donald and Janet Mackay. His father rented a small farm at
Alt-na-Caillich, where Robert was born, and is said to have been
a man of great piety, of quiet and retiring disposition, but not
distinguished by any special talent. His mother, however, is
said to have been very clever, and to have had some poetic skill.
Her memory was remarkable, and she was able to recite long
poems of Ossian and other ancient minstrelsy of the Highlands;
for at that time, when few could read and books were scarce,
the recitation of poetry was practised by all ; but her knowledge
of this lore was more than ordinarily extensive. She lived to a
very advanced age, and was a woman of singular fortitude. It is
recorded of her that at the age of eighty-five, when tending her
sheep at a considerable distance from home, she had the misfortune
to fall and break her leg, but she bound it up and contrived to
get home unassisted; and, while afterwards enduring the opera-
tion of getting the fracture set, soothed the pain by crooning a
Gaelic song.

The parish of Durness, in which Alt-na-Caillich, the birth-
place of Rob Donn, is situated, is one of the grandest in the High-
lands ; and a more fitting spot for the nursery of a bard of nature
could scarcely be found. The strath lies embossomed in lofty
hills, terminating at the upper extremity in a mass of mountains
piled together as if nature wished to exhibit the rude but majestic
grandeur of mountain, rock, cataract, corrie, and glen. At the
lower extremity Ben-Hope rises in abrupt and towering magni-
ficence, lifting its head far above the wilderness of mountains
all around, and presenting a series of giant cliffs which rise
towering in succession to the very summit. On the northern
side Loch-Hope washes the foot of the mountain and stretches
onwards for about five miles, its banks decked with groves of
birch, divided here and there by little spots of the brightest green,
which give variety to the scene, and provide excellent pasture to
the flocks of sheep to be seen all through the glen.

Rob Donn. 8S

The first verse Robert is said to have composed was when he
had attained only his third year. He had got a new dress (a kilt
and jacket in one), such as little boys still wear in some parts of
the Highlands, not unlike a short petticoat, with a body fitting
closely round the waist, but instead of buttoning in front, his was
made to fasten at the back. His mother and the whole household
having been summoned early one morning to some out-door pur-
suits, he, left alone in the house, became anxious to get abroad in
his new garb, but found himself defeated in every attempt to
button it on. He therefore sallied forth in his little night-shirt,
when, being met by his mother, coming towards the house, he was
scolded by her for being seen out of doors in such a state. The
little fellow replied in a verse in which he reproaches the tailor for
the trick he had played him in placing the buttons behind.

When about seven years old, a gentleman then living in the
neighbourhood (John Mackay, Musal, but better known as Iain
MacEachainn), prevailed on Robert's parents to allow him to
come into his service. The precocity of the boy, his quickness
and wit, were sources of frequent amusement and wonder to Mr
Mackay and the younger members of the family, with whom he
soon became a favourite. Mr Mackay was an extensive grazier
and cattle-dealer, a business then followed in the North Highlands
by few ; and those few persons of superior intelligence and attain-
ments. Robert's first employment was to herd calves, and when
he had advanced sufficiently in years and strength, he assisted in
guiding droves of cattle to the markets in the South of Scotland
and North of England. Thus he became known wherever the
herdsmen could carry an anecdote or recite a verse ; and at Falkirk
Tryst or Kendal Fair, his witty sayings, satires, elegies, and love
songs were soon famous.

In this family he remained till the time of his marriage. The
sincere and unvaried kindness shown him, and the liberal manner
in which he was treated in this household, were never forgotten;
and he ever retained lively and grateful feelings towards all its
members — especially to his master. It i^ no trifling praise to
both, that though they now and then had a difference, the bard's
esteem and affection returned when the casual excitement had
passed ; and even while it lay upon his mind, he was never known
to have given it the least utterance, in any shape bordering upon
disrespect. On the death of Mr Mackay our poet composed an
elegy to his memory, which combines a forcible, energetic descrip-
tion of character and conduct, with as pure poetic power as can
be found in any poetry of its kind. This poem is entitled, Marbh-

84 Transactions.

rann do Iain AfacEachainn, and has been put into an English
dress by a young clansman, a son of the late Angus Mackay,
piper to her Majesty the Queen, from which the following verses
may be given : —

MacEachainn, now that thou art dead,

O ! whither shall we go to find
A man to stand us in thy stead,

As large of heart, as true, as kind ?
It were a hard experiment

To find a man of years like thee :
If, in the future, one be sent,

How few shall live that day to see !

Thy life was, ah, how different

From that of him still spared by fate —
Increasing land and hard-wrung rent,

Which strangers' hands will dissipate;
Who shall be called to join the dead,

And in Death's narrow chamber laid,
The only words by poets said —

" Behold the misery he made !"

The letter of the law some keep,

And yet hard creditors are they;
What legally they can, they reap,

What the law makes them, that they pay.
Though want and poverty they see —

Not less through pity grows their sum ;
Shut eyes and purse alike will be

Against the poor and needy one !

O man, that hast thy day of power,

And fain would'st well-remembered be,
Seize swiftly on the passing hour !

Now is thy opportunity !
Thou art on Death's grim battle-field;

He won his laurels 'mid its din :
Shame on the coward who would yield !

Fight as lie fought and ye shall win !

Though there be some who laugh to scorn
The man of liberal heart and hand,

This prayer to Heaven should be borne
From all the quarters of the land —

Rob Donn. 85

That that blest day we soon may see,
When man shall love his brother men,

Nor barter all eternity

For selfish three score years and ten !

Who needs advice must want it now,

And see the prosperous times depart —
All clouded is the poet's brow,

With none to reverence his art,
None seek to make the sad rejoice —

And when I ask why joys are fled,
They answer me with tearful voice,

" Alas, is not MacEachainn dead f '

I see the gathering of the poor —

Now poor, indeed, since thou art dead —

And closed for aye the open door,
Where love consoled and bounty fed !

And strangers now are praised to me
As lib'ral — I know only one !

But, ah, the wandering stars we see
After the setting of the sun !

Rob Donn married Janet Mackay, daughter of a respectable
small farmer in his native parish, and in her he found a help-meet
worthy in every respect. She is said to have been, in her humble
sphere, a woman of ready wit, much good sense, and of most
amiable disposition. She had a musical ear, and voice unrivalled
in the country; and an ordinary pastime of their winter evenings
was for the whole family to join their voices in song. On Sunday
evenings psalms took the place of the secular songs sung on the
other nights; and it was Rob's practice to wind up each day's
doings by asking the family to kneel, while he led their devotions
in a simple, earnest, and heartfelt prayer. They had thirteen
children. One of his sons was a corporal in Macleod's High-
landers, now the 71st Regiment, and to quote General Stewart,
" frequently revived the spirits of his countrymen, when drooping
on a long march, by singing the humorous and lively productions
of his father." After his marriage Rob resided for a short time on
a farm belonging to his late employer. But Donald " Lord Reay,
a true hearted chief, resident constantly amidst his 'children,' and
participating in all their affections, frequently claimed for himself
the care of the rising bard, . . . and Rob was invested with
an office which more than satisfied his ambition, and carried with

86 Transactions.

it abundant respect in the eyes of his fellow-mountaineers." He
was appointed Bo-man, or head cattle herd, at Balnakiel, a position
at that time of considerable responsibility and trust. In this
situation he remained for the greater part of his after lifetime.
His wife at the same time had charge of the dairy.

When the first regiment of Sutherland Fencibles was raised,
in 1759, Rob joined as a private soldier, being urged by several
of the gentlemen holding commissions in the corps, to accompany
them. The admiration of his talents, joined to his own respectable
and becoming demeanour, had, long previous to this, procured him
admittance to the society and family circles of all the better and
higher classes in the county. In the regiment he was not asked
to do duty as a soldier, excepting in a way that left him, with the
consent of the officers, master of his own time. He was, in fact,
the bard of the regiment ; and while his companions were at drill,
he was at large enjoying himself. In one of his rambles he was
met by a Major Boss, who had just joined the regiment, and to
whom he was not yet known. The Major, imagining he had made
a clandestine escape from duty, stopped him, abruptly demanding,
" To what company do you belong ?" " I belong to every com-
pany," retorted the bard, who did not relish being dealt with so
magisterially. The Major next asked him, " Your name ¥' The
bard replied in a verse of four lines, which can only be fully ap-
preciated by those acquainted with the county of Sutherland and
its history. What he said may be translated as follows : — " I am
a Sutherland, among the Sutherlands; a Gordon, among the
Gordons; a Gunn, among the Gunns ; but at my own home I am
a Mackay !" He then walked off, waiting no further questions,
with as proud a step as the Major himself could assume. The
Major was very angry ^ and complained to the Colonel about his
gross breach of military law; but the latter explained that the
poet was a privileged man, and begged him to pass over the ap-
parent want of respect; and when he had made the bard's acquain-
tance he would feel still more inclined to forgive him. Major
Ross and Rob, however, were never on friendly terms, and the
bard composed several songs in which this over-strict officer is very
sarcastically handled.

Rob remained with the regiment during the four years it was
embodied, and when it was disbanded in 1763, returned to his
home at Balnakiel. While Rob was with the regiment in the
South, Donald Lord Reay died. The bard was very much
attached to his Chief, who also had a deep respect for his faithful
vassal. His elegy on the nobleman sets forth his excellent

Rob Dorin. 87

character, describing the life of beneficent and useful retirement
he spent among his peaceful and affectionate Clan, at once their
father, their friend, and their pride — the patron of industry,
honesty, and worth. The following are from a translation of the
elegy on Donald Lord Eeay ; —

Mine eyes have ne'er beheld a Christmastide

So full of tears and pain ! Alas, my Chief,
The old year has removed thee from our side,

The new year but recalls us unto grief!
He that was chiefest where the tale was told,

Where music breathed, and poets' songs were sung,
Dwells in Death's lowest room beneath the mould —

For ever stilled beside the church of Tongue !

Full oft relentless Death has wounded thee,

O noble House of E-eay, with cruel thrust—
Nor spared the topmost branches of the tree,

But strewn its goodliest blossoms in the dust ;
But ne'er before within my memory

He chilled so warm a heart within the clay —
A heart so full of Christian charity —

As thine, O Donald, noble Lord of Reay !

I know my praises cannot swell thy fame,

Nor dost thou need them on that heavenly shore !
For like a fruitful branch is now thy name,

Where blossoms cluster ever more and more —
But if the great that shall come after thee

In daily life thy deeds do not rehearse,
No satire slight upon their lives shall be

The slow and mournful music of my verse.

The man with bounteous appetite for wealth —

Who seeks to feed his soul with yellow ore,
And lives to heap up riches for himself —

Will blame thee that thou left no miser'd store.
Then out his gathered treasure will he bring,

And praise himself, and bid his soul be gay —
But this is he whom Heaven's Almighty King

Shall call the great fool on the Judgment Day !

If one should search from first to last God's Book
And read the history of the saints therein,

Though sometimes they the narrow path forsook,
And for an instant gave a place to sin,

88 Transactions.

Though oftentimes they stumbled in the race,

And oft were lured astray by Satan's art,
Yet of this little meanness not a trace

Shall there be found in any godly heart !

Persons devoid of faith are fruitless weeds,

Their boisterous words are many and untrue,
But in that higher speech whose words are deeds,

There one shall surely find their words are few;
'Tis with the rich man as with him in need,

If they are faithless, they are bare of fruit —
Alike a soulless body is their creed

Ajid all their virtues flowers without root !

Had'st thou by nature been a man of greed,

How soon had grown the tempting glittering hoard !
If thou to Pity's tears had deigned no heed,

And hard-wrung rents with human curses stored !
But no ! for when the rents to thee were paid

It was more joy to thee a thousandfold,
To see a glad face in God's image made

Than the King's image on the yellow gold !

Poets there are among us who will praise

Men high in power for the hope of gain ;
And others will a tim'rous strain upraise

For fear their lord should frown did they refrain.
And so that goodness is proclaimed in verse

Which in their acts not even bards could see;
Such oft the songs of praise that bards rehearse

But such is not this elegy of thee.

There have been lofty men among thy sires,

In mind and wisdom, courage and renown,
Who in the proud pursuits of their desires

Have acted like the wearers of a crown !
Yet far less praise than thee they must receive

For Christian grace, and faith, and charity ;
It is less hard to hope than to believe

That better men will e'er come after thee !

After Lord Reay's death, Colonel Hugh Mackay, a son of the
bard's early employer, came to reside at Balnakiel. He retained
Rob in his employment ; nor were the fond associations of boy-
hood and early days forgotten by either, notwithstanding the

Rob Donn. 89

difference of rank that age now more plainly showed to be between
them. The bard composed several songs in honour of the Colonel,
of whom he was very fond, but he did not like the Colonel's wife.
She was of a penurious disposition, and is referred to frequently,
but always with a sharp sarcasm on her meanness.

The bard continued with Colonel Mackay till his wife, feeling
the infirmities of age, found she was no longer able to undertake
the duties connected with the management of the dairy. They
then removed to a small farm in the neighbourhood, called Nuy-
beg, but had not been long there when she, whom he so tenderly
loved, died. He grieved after her very deeply; his greatest earthly
treasure was gone; and a few months afterwards he was laid be-
side her in the churchyard of Durness. He died on the 5th
August 1778, being then about sixty-four years of age. The death
of the bard caused a univeral feeling of sadness over the whole
county ; and, it may be said, there was no individual but mourned
for him as a friend, those only excepted whose immoralities or
failings had rendered them objects on whom he exercised, with
severity, the powerful lash of his satire. He was honoured with
a funeral like that of a chief, the proudest and simplest of the
clan standing together, with tears in their eyes, when he was laid
in the grave. In 1829 a monument was erected over his remains,
at the expense of a number of his clansmen, with suitable inscrip-
tions in Gaelic, English, Greek, and Latin.

The majority of Rob Bonn's poems are of a humorous or
satirical character, and with few exceptions they are admirable.
Both characteristics are interwoven in many of his songs, and the
acuteness with which he lays open the motives of action, is ex-
celled only by the power of ridicule he brings to bear upon those
who have done wrong. He seems, with true dignity, to look
more at the offences committed than at the persons committing
them. But he was no regarder of persons, and spared neither
peer nor peasant, when he thought they required censure ; his own
employers coming in for a share of his satire on several occasions.
While in Lord Reay's employment he composed a very severe
satire on Lady Reay, because she had tried to screen a favourite
waiting-woman from the censures of the Church, using her in-
fluence with the clergyman for that purpose. Rob tells her in the
poem that when the influence of high rank is used to shield sin
or crime from punishment, then we must expect that such ex-
ample will be imitated in the different grades of society, and a
state of moral turpitude be the result.

Of purely descriptive poetry, he composed but little. Two

90 Transactions.

of his songs, which come under this denomination, are very beauti-
ful. One is a description of Winter, the other a contrast be-
tween the pleasures of a town and a pastoral life. The latter is a
dialogue between two young ladies — daughters of his first em-
ployer— one of whom, just returned, from town, where she had
been at school, praising a city life; the other, yet ignorant of
town, upholding the pleasures of rural retirement, and the beauties
of the bard's own native glen. Of course, the advocate of the
pastoral life has the best of it.

Love is a never-ending theme with almost every poet, and our
bard having a tender heart, gave expression to his feelings in many
a love-song. One of these was composed on his return from the
south, where he had been with his master's cattle, and going to
see his sweetheart, " the fair-haired Annie," learned that she had
forsaken him and pledged herself to another ! In the song he
urges his suit, and tells Annie of his great love. She replies that
he has been long away, and must have a very high opinion of him-
self if he thinks that she could wait an indefinite time for him,
when six others were daily urging their suit, and begging her
to make them happy ! He ends by saying that though the light
of his life would thus be gone, yet it was impossible for him to
tear her image from his bosom. The air to which the song is sung
is also his own composition, and is sad but very beautiful.

I have already given two specimens of his elegies, and it is
in these compositions we have the best specimens of our bard's
talents. All over the Highlands, until days not long gone by,
every district had its bard or bards, and when any celebrated
individual died, it was customary for his death to be followed by
an elegy, to perpetuate the remembrance of his virtues. That
such praises should always be justly bestowed, and not partake of
poetic exaggeration, is not to be expected. But of, Rob Donn it
is positively asserted that his elegies were the result of genuine
feeling; that they conveyed the truth; and also, that on such
occasions his verse could never be hired or enlisted by any prospect
of self-interest or advantage. In the last verse of his elegy on
his first employer — Iain MacEachainn — he refers to this, and
says —

" I flatter not — but speak of things
And virtues which mine eyes beheld."

His most celebrated "poem of this description is Marbhrcmn
Eoghainn, or E wen's Elegy. The circumstances under which it
was composed were as follows : — Rob was benighted on a deer-

Rob Donn.

91

stalking expedition, near the head of Loch-Eriboll, and took
shelter in a hut belonging to an old man named Ewen, whom he
found stretched on his pallet, apparently at the point of death.
He had heard that morning of the death of Pelham, then Prime
Minister to King George the Second. The idea of his death,
called away from the summit of ambition and worldly greatness,
contrasted with poor Ewen's state, set him to the invoking of his
muse. Ewen was unable, through weakness, to converse with the
bard, who kindled a fire, sat down, and having composed his
poem, hummed it over. But although too exhausted to speak,
Ewen had still a keen sense of hearing, and also of pride; for
when Rob came to the last verse, which referred to the lowly con-
dition of the dying man, he felt so incensed that, summoning his
remaining strength, he crept out of bed, seized a club, and wielded
a blow at the poet's head ! Rob had barely time to jump aside
and avoid the stroke, and had some difficulty in pacifying the old
man. The following is the poem : —

'Tis thou that dost instruct us Death !

That we should learn ere yet too late
The longest lives are but a breath —

Thou callest hence both small and great !
But these thy latest actions, make

Us ope' at once our slumb'rous eyes —
. Thy sudden leap from Britain's Court

To this low nook where Ewen lies !

Long time, O Ewen, yes long time,

Has dread disease foretold thy fate,
Now nigh Death's door dost thou repine,

With no one to compassionate !
If unimprov'd the time has pass'd,

And many a crime been done therein,
Yet hope remains while life shall last,

Oh ! yet repent thee of thy sin !

If we believe thy word, O Death,

These lessons we shall ne'er let slip ;
There is no mortal drawing breath

Too vile for thy companionship !
This solemn truth when will we learn,

Death's vision is both high and low —
From Ewen's sores thou dost not turn —

Great Pelham felt thy mortal blow !
Long time, 0 Ewen, &c.

92 Transactions.

Thou makest grief in Court and Hall,

W7hen at thy touch Earth's glories fade !
The ragged poor man thou dost call,

For whom no mourning will be made !
All men, O Death, thy face shall see,

And all be forced with thee to go !
Watchful and ready should we be,

'Twixt Pelham high and Ewen low !
Long time, O Ewen, &c.

And all around thy victims fall,

Unseen thy sudden bullets fly;
The voices round us loudly call

That we should be prepared to die.
Thou that art lowest in the throng,

Hast thou not heard that Ewen dies 1
And thou by God made great and strong

That low in dust great Pelham lies ?

Long time, O Ewen, &c.
Friends of my heart ! And shall not this

Make all our thoughts to heaven tend?
Society a candle is

That flames away at either end !
In Scotland, where's a humbler man,

O Ewen, than thy father's son 1
And in all Britainj greater than

This Pelham, save the King, was none !
Long time, 0 Ewen, &c.

In this elegy the subject is made a general one, the uncer-
tainty of time, and the calls to preparation for death, sounded to
mankind, in the simultaneous fall of high and low, rich and poor,
and the circumstances which led to its composition, certainly show
a poet's mind. An anecdote regarding it was related by the Rev.
Murdoch Macdonald, minister of Durness. One very stormy Sun-
day morning he had doubts as to the propriety of holding service in
the church, as he did not wish to detain the congregation; and he
knew, if he once began to preach, he might forget himself, and detain
the people longer than was desirable. A friend, who was staying
with him, said, " I think it necessary to hold a short service, and
I'll tell you what to do — just go to church and sing Marbhrann
Eoghaiwi, for it will be greatly more instructive than any sermon
you can give !" Mr Macdonald adds his appreciation of the elegy
did not go quite BO far as to induce him to adopt this advice.

Rob Donn. 93

Our bard and Mr Macdonald were great friends, and, at the
end of the year in which the latter died, he composed a monody
on him, of which the following is a translation : —

O, mouth of eloquence ! O, lib'ral heart !

0, mind with wisdom stored and soul of grace !
Hand without stint or meanness to impart,

A smile of loveliness, and frownless face.
In grief's sad wilderness I tarry long;

Amid the gay I shed the secret tear;
No more I care for wisdom or for song —

No song can please me which thou canst not hear !

They changed their manners now since thou art dead,

No more they care the heavenly crown to win;
They heed no more what thou in love hast said,

And God has given them over to their sin.
Some, when thou first departedst, wept for thee ;

But grief grows old, no longer now they sigh ;
But not so soon will grief depart from me,

Here, at the year's end, sad, 0 sad, am I !

1 love thy little ones, I love thy kin,

I love thy fame, which ever shall abide,
I love the songs which thou wert wont to sing,

The very churchyard ashes at thy side !
Oh, that two generations we had had

Of thee ! My sorrow for thee cannot die ;
The year departing, leaves me no less sad ;

Here, at the year's end, sad, 0 sad, am I !

But Rob Donn was celebrated for his witty sayings and ready
answers, as well as for his poetry, as the following anecdotes will
show: — He was on one occasion in the north of Argyllshire, and
meeting a gentleman asked him some questions relative to his
way. The gentleman addressed (a Mr Macdonald) said — "I per-
ceive, my man, by your dialect you belong to the North — what
part there?' "To Lord Reay's country." "O, then, you must
know Rob Donn." "Yes, I could point him out to you in a
crowd." " Pray, then, tell me what sort of person he is of whom
I have heard so much V " A 'person, I fear, of whom more has
been spoken than he well deserves." Mr Macdonald, who, it is
said, was no mean poet himself, did not like the reply, and thought
he had met with a rigid censurer of the Northern bard. After a

94 Transactions.

pause, pointing to Ben-Nevis, Mr Macdonald asked — " Were you
ever, my man, at the summit of yonder mountain 1" "I never
was." " Then you never have been so near to heaven." " And
have you, yourself, been there T " Indeed, I have." " And what
a fool you have been to descend," retorted the bard, " are you sure
of being ever again so nigh?" Macdonald replied — "I'll be shot,
if thou be not thyself Rob Donn." The bard did not deny it, and
a cordial friendship was formed between them.

A vacancy having occurred in the parish church of Durness,
the Rev. John Thomson was appointed to the charge. He was
not very clever, but was a good man, and of retiring habits. Rob
being in Thurso, was met by the Rev. Dr Nicolson, a man of great
talents, but very lazy in his calling, and neglectful of his duties.
Expecting to be entertained by one of the poets sallies at Mr
Thomson's expense, Dr Nicolson said— " Well, and how does Mr
Thomson, now-a-days V " Mr Thomson," replied the bard, "is
doing what you never did, or will do — he is doing his best !"

The poet, a sketch of whose life I have here recorded, was a
simple Highland drover, and perfectly unlettered, for he never
knew his alphabet ; but the habits of oral recitation were in vigour
all about him, and " ere he marked himself man " he had laid in a
prodigious stock of such lore as from time immemorial had con-
stituted the intellectual wealth of the country. His knowledge of
Highland traditions, legends, and ballads of all sorts, is reported to
have been quite extraordinary. The Sundays in that quarter were
days really devoted to religion; and while yet a mere youth, he
mastered a more intimate acquaintance with the Scriptures than
perhaps falls to the share of many persons with the greatest of
modern privileges. This Bible knowledge he acquired through ex-
tempore translations, made by his first employer and other educated
people in the parish, for in those days the Gaelic Bible had not
been printed.

Besides being a poet, he was also a musician, and composed the
airs to which many of his songs are sung; and, it is said, he did
not on any occasion take more than two hours in the composition
of even his longest poem.

It speaks a great deal for the worth of his personal character,
that although he was dreaded as a satirist throughout the North
Highlands, quite as much as Burns was in the Lowlands of Scotland,
he was promoted in due time, with universal approbation, to the
dignity of ruling elder of the church in the parish where he re-
sided, and continued to hold that responsible office without reproach
to the end of his life. This was no small honour in those days.

Rob Donn. 95

" The satirist, in short, was dreaded, but only by the vicious ; and
the poet respected and beloved by all whose esteem he desired to
possess — vice was the mark of his satire, but virtue the favourite
theme of his muse."

A number of his poems and songs were collected and published
by the late Rev. Dr Mackintosh-Mackay in the year 1829. The
volume, which contains upwards of two hundred of Rob's com-
positions, made some stir in literary circles at the time of its
appearance. Sir Walter Scott reviewed it in the " Quarterly," and
in his criticism places our bard " among the true sons of song."
Sir Walter concludes his review in these words : — " There is little
time to be lost if the, as yet, imprinted literature" of the High-
landers " is to be preserved at all. In spite of all that can be
done . . . the language of the Gael, like their peculiar
manners, must ere long disappear from this island. Even of their
blood, if things go on as they have been doing for the last forty
years" [this was written in 1830] " there will, at no distant date,
be more in Canada than in Scotland. But no semblance of their
old system of society is at all likely to be built up in the Trans-
atlantic wildernesses to which they are so rapidly removing them-
selves; and we fear but little of the more poetical part of their
character will survive through more than a single generation
those ties of patriarchal attachment and devotion which foreign
violence could never disturb," . . . but " which the avarice
of vanity has not hesitated to sever."

Surprise has often been expressed how such a man as Rob
Donn, without a grain of what is commonly called education,
should be able to compose pieces embodying such pure and refined
sentiments as those contained in his elegies and other poems.
But the state of society in the Highlands in those days was very
different from what it is now. Then, the ties of clanship were
strictly observed ; there was a close friendly feeling between its
various members — from the Chief to the lowliest cottager — and,
further, there was a constant fraternal interchange of ideas between
rich and poor, which gave a polish to the speech of even the
humblest among them, not to be found in people of the same social
scale among the Lowlanders or English. Hence, in a measure,
that purity of expression found in the works of all the Gaelic
poets. Nobility of sentiment, a high sense of honour, the ridiculing
of vice, and the praise of virtue, were the natural results of such
a system, and these were themes to which the poets delighted to
give utterance. These feelings still linger in some districts of the
Highlands at the present day. But, "alas! how fallen, how

96 Transactions.

changed" is the "country" Rob Donn. made vocal with his
song. The straths and hill-sides which, in his day, and for a
couple of generations after, sustained a happy, contented, and
industrious population in " peace and plenty," are now solitary as
the desert — sheep and deer have supplanted men !

As an illustration of the state of society in the Highlands in
Rob Bonn's time, I may state that an aunt of my father's told me
repeatedly she remembered well that almost every evening her
father (my great-grandfather) considered it a duty .to go into the
kitchen of his house, where his servants and a number of the small
tenants would be assembled, and read aloud to them. That is, he
would put into Gaelic what he found in the few books and news-
papers which at that time found their way to his remote locality,
as few of the servants or small tenants could understand English.
Then remarks were made on, and conclusions drawn from, what
had been read. And, the old lady would add, it was surprising
how acute and pointed many of the remarks were. This was
practised all over the Reay country, as well as other parts of the
Highlands. The superiors regularly informed and explained to
their dependants all that was going on, it being then considered no
small part of the duty of the higher classes to elevate the mind, as
well as assist in increasing the means of their humbler relatives
and clansmen. With such habits, it is not to be wondered that
the people of the country were of refined and moral character.
"A dishonourable action excluded the guilty person from the
privileges enjoyed by his equals; grievances of every kind were in-
quired into and redressed; and the humble orders of the com-
munity had a degree of polish, and a manly mildness of deport-
ment, in domestic life, to which few of the present day have
attained, much as has been said of modern improvements." The
imprint of this is still seen in the superior bearing and speech of
the Reay country peasantry, even after the lapse of nearly a
century.

In conclusion, Sir Walter Scott's warning has not been alto-
gether in vain, for the labours of Mr J. F. Campbell in collecting
the Gaelic tales and poems he has already published were, I have
been told, first suggested by reading the criticism on Rob Donn in
the " Quarterly Review." But much remains to be done, and the
members of a Society such as this can help greatly in rescuing
many a literary gem from oblivion, by collecting poems, songs, and
ballads they have heard in their younger days, but which have never
been printed. Every glen in the Highlands, almost every village
has its local poet ; and our Society would be a fit repository for such

Imperfect Appreciation of Ossian. 97

fugitive pieces as I have hinted at. May I, a stranger, take the
liberty of directing the attention of the Council to this, more especi-
ally as we are soon to have a Chair in Scotland (thanks, above all,
to Professor Blackie) for Celtic Languages and Literature. Every
scrap that can be gathered will be of importance.

6ra APRIL 1876.

At this meeting, Mr Robert Macleod, Leuchars, Fife, was
elected an ordinary member. The Secretary, on behalf of Mr C. S.
Jerram, M.A., Windleshatn, Surrey (an English gentleman who,
by study, has acquired a knowledge of the Gaelic language), read
the following paper, entitled —

SOME CAUSES OF THE IMPERFECT APPRECIATION
BY ENGLISHMEN OF THE OSSIANIC POEMS.

Before beginning my remarks, I would beg leave to draw your
attention to the wording of my title, in explanation of the method
I propose to follow in treating the subject I have chosen for our
consideration this evening. The terms I desire to define and ex-
plain at the outset are three in number, " Englishmen," " Appre-
ciation," and " Ossianic."

Under the appellation of Englishmen I intend to include all
those who are not by birth and language " children of the Gael,"
whether actual natives of Scotland, or of the non-Gaelic-speaking
districts of Scotland and Ireland; all, in short, who cannot be
supposed to have any national or patriotic bias to start with, in
favour of Highland literature in general, or of Ossianic poetry in
particular. The neglect of this distinction, as shown in the indis-
criminate confounding of all the inhabitants of Scotland, as though
they were one in race and language, is a fertile source of error.

Secondly, I mean to use the word appreciation in its legitimate
sense by derivation, of putting a due price or value upon a thing,
that is to say, praising its merits when they exist, but not, on the
other hand, being blind to its defects.

Thirdly, by Ossianic poems, I understand, not only the cele-
brated collection purporting to have been made by James Mac-
pherson, but also the poems contained in other similar collections,

7

98 Transactions.

especially in the /Sean Dctna, published by Dr Smith, of Campbel-
ton, in 1780, to a portion of which I happen to have devoted my
own more particular attention. But I shall, of course, give the
first and chief place to Macpherson's Ossian, as being the larger
and better known collection of poems, which profess to treat of
the exploits of Fion, the son of Comhal, and of the other heroes
known and designated as the "Fingalian."

I can scarcely hope to achieve anything like a complete or
consistent treatment of my subject, without involving myself to
some extent in the celebrated controversy respecting the authen-
ticity of the aforesaid poems ; nevertheless it is not my intention
to conduct you through all the mazes of this dispute, which bids
fair to continue, at least for some time yet to come. This I
desire to avoid for two reasons ; first and chiefly, because, though
I have studied the question with much interest, I do not feel that
I have as yet come to what I can call a definite conclusion upon
its main issues; and secondly, because the controversy has lately
been begun afresh, with some amount of newly discovered material,
to which I shall have occasion shortly to refer, but whose value
I do not wish to judge prematurely. For the present, therefore,
I will simply crave for indulgence, while I briefly enumerate
some of the leading facts of the case, and give you a summary of
the principal arguments which have been adduced on both sides
of the question.

About 120 years ago, Jerome Stone published his translation
of a Gaelic poem entitled "Albin and Mey." I mention him
particularly, because he was not a Highlander, but an inhabitant
of Fifeshire, who, having a school at Dunkeld, took advantage of
his residence there to learn the Gaelic language, and make the
aforesaid translation. I venture therefore to claim him as the
first " Englishman " (in the sense I have already explained) who
showed his "appreciation" of Gaelic poetry. His rendering is
described by Mr J. F. Campbell, in vol. iv. of "Tales of the
West Highlands," p. 79, as "a paraphrase, but faithful."

James Macpherson was born in 1738, and was first a student
at Aberdeen. In 1759 he met with John Home, with whom he
held a conversation, which led him to translate and publish two
specimens of ancient Gaelic poetry. Then, by the advice of Dr
Blair, he was induced to translate others, and in 1760 he pub-
lished a volume entitled " Fragments of Ancient Poetry, collected
in the Highlands of Scotland," now rather a rare book. The
professed original of these Fragments was never published, and
has not been discovered; the English version is paraphrased in

Imperfect Appreciation of Ossian. 99

the same peculiar style with which we are all familiar in the
Poems of Ossian. In 1762 and 1763 appeared the English of
Fingal and Temwa, with an appended Gaelic text, professedly
the original of the seventh Duan of the latter poem. (Hence it
appears that it is not quite correct to say that Macpherson never
published any Gaelic at all, till he was forced to do so long after-
wards by the pressure of public opinion; for he seems to have
brought out this fragment in 1763 of his own accord.) The other
poems of the collection — Cathloda, Comhala, and the rest — were
published about the same time, and gained an immense reputation,
so that in a short time they were translated into nearly every
language of Europe. Of these the Italian version, by Cesarotti,
is perhaps the one most generally known. In Britain, however,
they began to be denounced as manifest forgeries, by many men
more or less eminent in the world of letters, among whom the
names of Dr Johnson, Mr Laing, and Mr Pinkerton, were most
conspicuous, and will most readily occur to all who are conversant
with the subject. Of the criticisms of the two last named gentle-
men I do not propose to speak, except by way of a passing obser-
vation. Mr Laing mainly contented himself with depreciating
assertions concerning the inability of a barbarous people to pro-
duce such specimens of literature; while Mr Pinkerton devoted
his industry, with some apparent degree of success, to the proving
a charge of plagiarism against Macpherson, who, as he alleged,
had stolen numerous ideas and expressions from the Bible, from
Homer, Virgil, and other ancient sources. But with Dr John-
son we are very much more concerned; for I venture to regard
his influence as a prime moving cause of the result we are con-
sidering— the unreasoning opposition to the claims of the Ossianic
poems at this period. I mean that at the time of their first pub-
lication an unfavouaable bias was given to public opinion through
the influence of the man who was undoubtedly able to turn
its current in almost any direction he pleased. He was certainly
in the proper sense of the word a great man, and one to whom we
all, Englishmen and Scotchmen alike, owe an immense debt of
gratitude; but there was withal much of the bigot in his character.
Prejudiced he was and overbearing in his behaviour towards those
who differed from him; impatient of contradiction, and a genuine
hater of all imposture, or what he believed to be such. He did
not always condescend to assure himself of the truth of his facts,
and on this ground, if on no other, he by no means appears to ad-
vantage as regards the part he took in the Ossianic controversy of
his day. He roundly stated his conviction that the Scottish people

100 Transactions.

were so barbarous and ignorant, that it was simply impossible that
they could ever have produced any poetry worth preserving, with
a great deal more to the same effect ; and he ended with the bold
assertion that no Gaelic MS. existed one hundred years old !
The first statement was, of course, tantamount to assuming
the very thing he had set himself to prove, the second was
the result of pure ignorance, and not perhaps a deliberate false-
hood ; yet the English public took for granted that what the great
man said was true, and believed accordingly. With such in-
gredients in his mental composition as I have described, it is easy
to imagine what Dr Johnson's feelings must have been, when he
heard that one James Macpherson, belonging to a nation against
which he had always been strongly prejudiced, and whose character
for veracity he was always disposed to question, had published
what purported to be a genuine collection of ancient Gaelic poetry,
of which he offered no more than an English version of his own,
the originals, if ever there were any, being (as it appeared) studi-
ously kept out of sight. The doctor at once denounced the whole
business as an impudent attempt at imposture, and considered
himself to be the proper person to expose it. " Where are the
MSS ]" he exclaims. " They can be shown if they exist. So far
as we can find, the Erse [Gaelic] language was never written till
very lately. A nation that cannot write has no MSS. None of
the old Erse families had a single letter in Erse that we heard of.
You say that many can remember parts of Ossian. I believe all
those parts are versions of the English ; at least there are no proofs
of their antiquity." And then see his final letter to Macpherson,
the last of a correspondence, conducted with unusual acrimony
and violent abuse on both sides. It runs as follows : — " MR
JAMES MACPHERSON ! I received your foolish and impudent
letter. Any violence offered me I shall do niy best to repel ; and
what I cannot do for myself the law shall do for me. I hope I
shall never be deterred from detecting what I think a cheat by
the menaces of a ruffian ! What would you have me retract 1 I
thought your book an imposture ; I think it an imposture still.
Your rage I defy; your abilities are not so formidable,
and what I hear of your morals inclines me to pay regard, not to
what you shall say, but to what you shall prove." This last allu-
sion to " morals" is an insinuation of untruthfulness against Mac-
pherson, and agrees very well with what Dr Johnson had said, in
a previous letter to Boswell, of the Scottish people generally : —
" I am surprised that, knowing as you do the disposition of your
countrymen to tell lies in favour of each other, you can be at all

Imperfect Appreciation of Ossian. 101

affected by any reports that circulate among them." That the
man who wrote in this fashion was terribly in earnest there can
be no reasonable doubt; yet there is nothing in all that he says
which is worthy of the name of criticism, nor anything pertinent
to the matter in dispute, except the just and proper demand for
the production of the alleged originals. That Macpherson did
not produce them at the time, if he had the power to do so is, to
say the least of it, an unfortunate circumstance. The rest is mere
unverified assertion on the part of Dr Johnson, combined with
prejudice as narrow as it was violent; but coming as it did from
the foremost literary man of the age, and a recognised leader of
public opinion, his criticism gained celebrity, and carried with it a
weight which is distinctly felt in its effects upon the popular mind
of Englishmen even to the present time.

The other day I got hold of a little book, published in. or
about 1810, entitled " True Stories from Ancient History," and
designed for the use of children. From this book I have taken
the following extract : — " Fingal, King of Morven, died about this
time (A.D. 280.) The poems that describe his actions are called
' Ossian's Poems,' as it was pretended they were written by
Ossian. But it is generally believed that they were chiefly com-
posed by Mr Macpherson, the gentleman who published them.
Why he should not acknowledge having written pieces of so high
beauty and merit is a riddle difficult to be explained. Why any
rational person should assert the thing that is not true must ever
be inexplicable." I am afraid this last is far too common a
phenomenon to call for extreme surprise; but what I wish to
draw attention to is the very loose manner in which the main re-
sults of the Ossianic controversy are stated in the extract above
quoted, which, being intended for the instruction of children, may
be supposed to embody in a condensed form the current belief
upon this subject at the time the book was written.

I have taken Dr Johnson simply as the originator and most
conspicuous example of those who have indulged in this unreason-
ing style of criticism (falsely so-called), upon the claims of Mac-
pherson's Ossian to authenticity. It would be tedious to enumerate
even the names of others who followed in his wake, but I will con-
clude this portion of my subject by a citation from Lord Macaulay,
who was too eminent a man to be passed over entirely without
notice. In his biography of Samuel Johnson, the only remarks
he has condescended to make with respect to the Ossianic question
are as follows : — " Macpherson, whose Fingal had been proved to
be an impudent forgery, threatened to take vengeance with a cane.

102 Transactions.

The only effect of this threat was that Johnson reiterated the
charge of forgery in the most contemptuous terms [see the letter
quoted above], and walked about during some time with a cudgel,
which, if the impostor had not been too wise to encounter it,
would assuredly have descended upon him, to borrow the sublime
language of his own epic poem, * like a hammer on the red son of
the furnace.' " It has been the fashion, in some quarters, to single
out the name of Macaulay for special reprobation, because, being
himself a Scot by birth, he chose to vilify one of his own compatriots,
and to treat the professed liberator of his country with contempt and
scorn. I see no justice in this complaint; the question is one of
fact, not of patriotism; and if Macaulay had chosen to support
his view of that question by a fair course of argument, based on
an intelligent examination of the alleged facts, he ought not to
have been deterred from doing so by any national considerations
whatever. What we have to complain of is that he does not con-
descend to do anything of the kind, but merely reiterates in his
own forcible style assertions which others had made before him,
and which we cannot by any stretch of imagination suppose to
have been intended by him as arguments at all.

We now come to what I will designate as the second cause of
the opposition of Englishmen and non-Highlanders generally to
the claims of the so-called poems of Ossian during the lifetime of
Macpherson. They were published at a time when the hostile
feeling between the supporters of the ill-fated house of Stuart
and the Hanoverian Government was almost at its height. Long
before these days, as Macaulay tells us (this time without much
exaggeration), " a Highlander was synonymous with a thief;" and
those of them who had retained the Gaelic customs and language
(the dress had been absolutely proscribed), were the objects of
suspicion and contempt to the English-speaking public in both
countries. Sir John Sinclair (quoted by Dr Clerk in the preface
to his edition of Ossian) says — "In 1762, when Fingal was pub-
lished, there existed both in England and in Scotland a great spirit
of hostility to everything connected with the Gaelic language, on
account of the zeal with which the Highlanders of 1745 had sup-
ported the house of Stuart. Hence many were induced to decry
the beauties of Ossian." Can we then suppose that at such a time,
and under such circumstances as these, the " appreciation" of the
Ossianic remains should have been otherwise than " imperfect."

Hitherto we have been dealing solely with the English para-
phrase by Macpherson, concerning the date and authorship of
which there has never been any dispute, and in which, as all

Imperfect Appreciation of Ossian. 103

competent judges must admit, there are many passages of rare
excellence and beauty. The history of the Gaelic text which
professes to be its original is a curious one; and it is upon the
degree of authenticity which can be allowed for this text that the
whole " Ossianic controversy" is founded. It is admitted on both
sides that Macpherson did collect a number of Gaelic ballads in
the Highlands; the question is — What were these1? and how
much of genuine material is contained in the Gaelic text of
1807, the only one which we now possess1? I shall recur to this
subject presently; meanwhile I will briefly sum up what I have
been able to collect respecting Macpherson's proceedings. It ap-
pears that instead of publishing his MSS. when first requested to
do so (with the exception of the Seventh Duan of Temora, which
we have seen was published in Gaelic in 1763), he deposited them
with his London publishers, where they remained for a whole year,
without anyone taking the trouble to examine them. Incredible
as this may seem, it is asserted as a fact beyond all possibility of
contradiction. It is further said that Macpherson would have
published the MSS. then, if he could have got a sufficient number
of subscribers to defray the expenses; but it was not till about 1790
that £1000 was subscribed for the purpose, and he then set about
preparing a copy, but unfortunately died before the work could
be completed, in 1796. The MSS. had been already sent to Mr
John Mackenzie, of the Temple, who was Macpherson's executor;
he soon afterwards died, and his son delivered them to the High-
land Society of London, who finally published the book in 1807.
Now it must be remembered that these MSS. had passed through
the hands of more than one editor, not including Macpherson
himself; also that Dr Ross, of Lochbroom, to whom the task of
editing was chiefly entrusted, re-wrote the whole work, having
had special instructions to adapt the orthography to the received
standard of the Gaelic Bible of 1801. And when, in addition to
these facts, we consider what the original collection is likely to
have suffered at the hands of Macpherson and his coadjutors dur-
ing those five or six years of preparation, we shall find it difficult to
believe that the Gaelic of 1807 is a true and faithful transcript
of those originals, even if there were no internal evidence pointing
to a similar conclusion. Thus much, I think, I may safely assert
respecting the general question of the authenticity of this Gaelic
text ; what more immediately concerns the subject of this paper
is the belief, which I hold most strongly, that the said Gaelic text
cannot, be in its entirety a translation from the English of Mac-

104 Transactions.

pherson. I will not go so far as to say that no portions of it are
so, but I am speaking of the work as a whole, and of its best
parts especially. These are in many ways superior to the English
version; simpler in diction and grander in style than the latter,
which, admirable as it is in many respects, and decidedly a work
of genius, does nevertheless often produce the effect of something
" akin to bombast," as Mr J. F. Campbell truly says in his popular
Tales of the West Highlands. I am sorry to be compelled to differ
from this eminent authority with regard to his latest assertion on
this point, in a letter to the " Highlander," dated September 1875;
but as he there gives no reasons for it, whereas he has given very
good and sufficient reasons for the opposite view on p. 144 foil, of
the work I have just referred to, I hope I shall not be thought
presumptuous if I exercise my own right of judgment in favour of
Mr Campbell's earlier opinion, that the notion of the Gaelic Ossian
being a translation from English is " something almost absurd,"
and that " it is impossible that it can be a translation from Mac-
pherson's English." The very imperfections and in some cases
positive errors, which are to be found in the latter, show that the
translator had before him a text not greatly differing in those
portions from the Gaelic of 1807, and yet that he has in several
instances quite missed its meaning. I subjoin one or two speci-
mens of the Gaelic with the two versions of Macpherson and of
Dr Clerk in his lately published edition of Ossian, italicising those
portions in which the former has given an incorrect or imperfect
rendering. In Cathloda, line 42 foil., the Gaelic is : —

" Thusa chbmhn'cheas am measg nan clarsach,
A sgiath bhallach druid-sa gu m' laimh ;
Till an sruth mbr so o m' thaobh,
No ri m' thaobh bitheadh do thuineadh fo lar."

This is the address of Fingal to his shield, which Dr Clerk thus
translates : — " Thou that dwellest amid the harps, thou spotted
shield, close on my arm ; turn this torrent from my side, or by
my side lie under ground." Macpherson's paraphrase has very
little sense, if any — "Come down, thou dweller between the
harps ! Thou shalt roll this stream away, or waste with me in
earth."

In the fourth Duan of Temora, the spirit of Cairbar appears to
his brother Cathmor, and foretells the issue of the war in these
terms —

Imperfect Appreciation of Ossian. 105

" Tachradh solas do d' anam fein ;
Chualas caismeachd o threun air magh ;
Thug am bard an dan le feum,
Tha astar mo cheuman 's a' ghaoith ;
Tha mo chruth 'an talla ciar,
Mar dkealan nan sian fo fhuath,
'Nuair a bhriseas e claon air sliabh,
Stoirm oidhche a' triatt o thuath,
Cha bhi am bard air chall o d'uaimli ;
'Nuair a thaisgear thu suas 's an uir,
Tha siol nan dan mu threin a luaidh ;
Tha d'ainm mar fhuaim o ghaoith tha ciuin,
Tha toirme 1/rdm a? bhroin 's a' ghleann ;
Tha guthfada thall air Lubar."

Dr Clerk's version is —

" May happiness betide thy soul !
I heard the voice of the brave on the field,
The bard gave forth the song with power,
The path of my steps is on the wind ;
My form is in the dusky hall,
Like dreaded lightning of the storms,
When it bursts and scatters on the hill,
And the night tempest travels from the North.
A bard shall not be wanting at thy grave ;
When thou shalt be laid in dust,
The sons of song sing of the brave.
Thy name is as the sound of a gentle wind ;
The Jteavy moan of grief is in the glen;
A voice is far away on Lubar."

Obstrve how much Macpherson has missed in his rendering of the
above passage. " Joy meet the soul of Cathmor! His voice was
heard in Moilena. The bard gave his song to Coirbar. He
travels on the wind. My form is in my father's hall, like the
gliding of a terrible light, which darts across the desert in a
stormy night. No bard shall be waiting at thy tomb, when thou
art lowly laid. The. sons of song love the valiant. Cathmor, thy
name is as a pleasant gale. The mournful sounds arise. On
Lubar's field there is a voice."

There is a celebrated passage in the first Duan of Fingal, de-

106 Transactions.

scribing the chariot of Cuchullin. It begins with the line (in the
Gaelic of 1807)—

" Carbad, carbad, garbh a' chbmhraig,"

and for ten lines onward Macpherson's translation is highly spirited
and in the main correct. But the eleventh and twelfth lines are
not so successfully rendered — e.g., "The sides are replenished with
spears, the bottom is the footstool of heroes." Now, as the Gaelic
has no equivalent for the words in italics, but may be literally
rendered, " It is the dwelling-place of spears, of shields, of swords,
and of heroes," it might be supposed that Macpherson had here
a different text from that of 1807, especially as we find quite
another version of the whole passage given in the Appendix to
the Report of the Highland Society's Committee. This I should
really be inclined to believe to be the case, were it not for the
evidence which presents itself on nearly every page of the English
Ossian, of the translator's propensity to improve upon the simpli-
city of his original, by inserting what he imagined to be orna-
ments, in the way of metaphors and flowery additions of his own.
Several examples of this are given in the Society's Report, and
their opinion is that in Macpherson's translation the clearness of
the original is " frequently lost in words, of which the sound
pleases the ear, but which are of a general indeterminate sort, that
might belong to any other place or object of a similar kind."
Therefore I do not feel by any means sure that Macpherson did
not insert the phrase, " footstool of heroes" in the passage in ques-
tion, in preference to simply giving the literal translation. But
the best, or rather the worst of the story (as affecting Macpherson's
credit as a translator), remains to be told. The passage continues
with a fine description of Cuchullin's steed, too well known to need
citation, and the last two lines of the Gaelic run thus —

" Bu shoilleir a dreach 's bu luath
'Shiubhal; Sith-fada Ve ainm."

i.e., "Shining was his form, speedy his pace; his name Si-fada" (or
"Long-stride"). But Macpherson has actually blundered so far as
to take the name Siubhal for a part of the horse's name ; and so,
disjoining it from the clause to which it belongs, he has favoured
us with the memorable rendering — "His name is Sulin-sifadda /"
Will anyone maintain that the Gaelic of this line was composed
after or from the English as its original1? By whom and when

Imperfect Appreciation of Ossian. 107

the Gaelic itself was written (whether the actual text of 1807 or
an earlier one) is a different question altogether. That it could
not have been the work of Ossian, or of any bard of the third or
fourth century A.D., in its present epic form, ought to be obvious
to all, and there are sufficient grounds for asserting that Mac-
pherson could not have done it for himself. The question, though
one of great interest, is not material to the subject before us, all
I am now concerned to prove being that the Gaelic is on the whole
not a translation from the English, that it is vastly superior to it,
and lastly, that it has suffered very much at the hands of the
translator. The third cause then which I assign for the "imper-
fect appreciation by Englishmen of the Ossianic poems" is their
ignorance of the Gaelic language, and the consequent necessity
imposed upon them of reading these poems in a version often in-
correct, and in most points inferior.

The defects of such a paraphrastic rendering appear still more
prominently in Dr Smith's Sean Dana, in the English version of
which he has imitated Macpherson's peculiar style, and on the
whole imitated it badly. In his introduction he makes no secret
of the principle upon which he worked, and he is so far more can-
did than his predecessor ; for he tells us plainly that after collect-
ing his specimens of ancient Gaelic poetry, he arranged them as
seemed best to himself, and that "a few lines are sometimes
thrown in to join episodes together." The unsatisfactory nature
of his translation induced me to attempt a new one, which, not-
withstanding several errors discovered since the publication, is at
any rate more literal than Dr Smith's, and does not aim at en-
larging or improving upon the professed original. Allow me to
cite two instances of the Doctor's version from my Introduction,
and to compare them with my own. Both are from the First
Part of Dan an Deirg.

Line 9 — "'San 1& ud bha Comhal nam buadh
Le cheol a' s le shluagh air an leirg;
(Ge h-iosal fo chluainein an fheidh
An diugh an laoch treun ann am feirg,
A leaba fo chbs nan clach,
Am fasgadh na daraig aosda).''

This I have rendered thus : —

" On that day was Cual the glorious [lit. 'of victories.']
With music and with his host upon the plain ;

108 Transactions.

(Though low beneath the pasture of the deer
To-day lies the hero, once terrible in wrath,
His bed under the hollow of the stones,
In the shelter of the aged oak)."

I)r Smith's paraphrase runs — " Comhal sat on that rock, where
now the deer graze on his tomb. The mark of his bed are three
gray stones and a leafless oak; they are mantled over with the
moss of years" All this last sentence comes out of the single
word aosda.

Line 47 — " A Dheirg sin am barra nan crann,
Is fann an iall ris an d'earb thu ;
Mbr-bheinn cha 'n f haic thu gu brath.
Tha d'fhalt anrach air tuinn 'g a luasgadh ;
Is mbr do bheud, a dhoinionn !
Togaibh, a thaibhse, leibh e ! "

This is addressed by Cual to the supposed ghost of his lost
comrade ; it forms a highly poetical apostrophe. I will not-
trouble you with the literal translation, but Dr Smith has turned
it into 'a plain prosaic narrative by paraphrasing it thus — "Dargo
climbed the mast to look for Morven, but Morven he saw no
more. The thong broke in his hand, and the waves, with all
their foam, leapt over his red wandering hair. The fury of the
blast drove our sails, and we lost sight of the chief. We lost
sight of the chief, and bade the ghosts of his fathers convey him
to his place of rest." There is indeed another version of the
fourth line — " Dh'fholuich tonna baite uainn thu," which may
represent, "We lost sight of the chief" — but otherwise the
italicised portions have no equivalent whatever in the Gaelic text.
In this then, as in the case of the more famous collection, a want
of acquaintance with the Gaelic must prove a serious drawback to
the due appreciation of these poems.

Here I might conclude, did I not feel that a certain recent
addition to our Ossianic literature demands something more than
a passing notice. I refer to Dr Hately Waddell's " Ossian and
the Clyde," lately published in Glasgow, whose main object and
scope I cannot better describe than by giving an extract from a
letter which I received from him last year. After mentioning
some of the causes of the general lack of interest in the Ossianic
poems, which I have already stated, he continues — "The geo-
graphical obscurity was so gross and impalpable, that nobody could

Imperfect Appreciation of Ossian. 109

realise a single scene with certainty ; and thousands were induced
to believe that the obscurity itself was the surest proof of im-
posture. If the scenes had been distinctly recognisable, the poems
would have had a sort of permanent interest, even though they
had not been believed ; but being neither believed on the one hand
nor understood on the other, popular interest began at last to fail.
The object of my work is to localise and identify every scene de-
scribed to such an extent of minuteness, that any intelligent reader
at this hour may set his own feet where Ossian and Fingal once
stood 1500 years ago." The object he here proposes to himself he
has certainly carried out with extraordinary elaboration, and in
many cases with much apparent success. I can only refer you to
the book itself for his identification of Lutha and Torlutha with
the Blackwater and Drumadoon in Arran; of Cromla, Jura, and
other places renowned in Fingal and Temora, with corresponding
localities in the north-east of Ireland; of the Lake of Lego with
Lough Neagh ; of Ithona, Inishuna, and Lumon, with the district
about the Rhinns of Galloway and the Solway Firth, and many
more too long to enumerate. I have neither space nor the re-
quisite independent information for a criticism of this remarkable
work ; that every reader will rise from its perusal with a convic-
tion that the geographical and topographical difficulties have in
every single instance received a full and complete solution, is more
than the author himself would probably expect ; that he has col-
lected a vast amount of material, both interesting in itself and
calculated to throw much light upon the subject he has undertaken
to investigate, may, I think, be freely admitted. And as Dr
Waddell is the only person who has ever thought of adducing this
particular kind of evidence in support of the authenticity of Mac-
pherson's Ossian, it is but fair that he should enjoy the credit of
having done so.

The causes, then, which I have adduced for the comparative
neglect of Ossianic literature,' are four in number — 1. The para-
mount influence of Dr Johnson, and other literary men, at and
after the time of Macphersoii's publication of his Ossian, combined
with other unfortunate circumstances in connection with the early
editions ; 2. The hostile feeling between the two political parties
in Scotland and England about the middle of the last century;
3. The inability of most Englishmen to read the poems in the
Gaelic language, assumed to be the original; 4. Certain geo-
graphical obscurities, which gave an air of unreality to the narra-
tive, and confirmed the disbelief in its historical accuracy.

The result of all this has been a comparative neglect of the

110 Transactions.

national language and literature in the very quarter where they
ought to have been most carefully fostered, that is, among the
Highland people themselves. Long ago many ministers of religion
thought fit to discourage the recitation of the ancient tales and
ballads in the long winter evenings, as a misemployment of time
which might be better and more profitably spent; while at other
times an exaggerated notion of utility has led many of the Gaelic-
speaking people to neglect, if not to despise, the cultivation of
their own language, and thus practically to further the anti-Celtic
influence which has been doing its work elsewhere with alarming
effect. But there are signs of a better state of things already
approaching — nay, even already come. When classical scholars,
at home and abroad, are beginning to think the Celtic language,
and the remains of Celtic literatures worth their serious attention ;
when Professors in Scottish Universities are devoting their time
and labour to the same object; and when a great movement is
being made for the establishment of a Celtic Chair both in Edin-
burgh and in Oxford, there is surely ground for hoping that the
treasures of Ossianic lore will not be suffered to lie unheeded and
forgotten. In the matter of the Ossianic controversy, much may
be done, if both sides will only submit to hear an unprejudiced
statement of facts, where these are known, and to draw an un-
biassed conclusion from them. But whoever was the author of
these poems, they are full of beauties, and will richly repay the
trouble of the student who learns the language in which they are
presented.

I have only to add that, if my own labours shall have tended
in any degree to this result, by introducing certain of these poems
to a larger and more intelligent circle of readers, and increasing
the interest that should be felt in them, as specimens of Gaelic
literature, I shall not feel that the work has failed of its reward.

MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY.

HONORARY CHIEFTAINS.

Sir Kenneth S. Mackenzie of Gairloch, Bart.
Professor John Stuart Blackie, Edinburgh University
Charles Fraser-Mackintosh of Drummond, M.P.
Duncan Davidson of Tulloch

LIFE MEMBERS.

Cluny Macpherson of Cluny Macpherson
Forbes, Alexander, 143 West Regent Street, Glasgow
Fraser, Alexander, 74 Church Street, Inverness
Fraser-Mackintosh, Charles, of Drummond, M.P.
Mackenzie, Sir Kenneth S., of Gairloch, Bart.
Burgess, Peter, factor for Glenmoriston, Inverness
Mackay, Donald, Gampola, Kandy, Ceylon
Mackay, George F., Roxburgh, Otago, New Zealand
Mackay, James, Roxburgh, Otago, New Zealand
Mackay, John, C.E., Swansea (late of Shrewsbury)

HONORARY MEMBERS.

Anderson, James, solicitor, Inverness
Black, Rev. Dr, Inverness

Blackie, Professor John Stuart, Edinburgh University
Bourke, Very Rev. Canon, Pres., St Jarlath's College, Tuam,
Ireland

112 Transactions.

Buchan, Dr Patrick, Lancashire Insurance Company

Cameron, Captain D. C., Talisker

Campbell, George Murray, Gampola, Ceylon

Chisholm, Captain A. Macra, Glassburn, Strathglass

Cooper, William, Highland Railway, Inverness

Davidson, Donald, solicitor, Inverness

Davidson, Duncan, of Tulloch, Ross-shire

Farquharson, Rev. Archibald, Tyree

Ferguson, Mrs, 6 Charles Street, Lowndes Square, London

Fraser, A. T. F., clothier, Church Street, Inverness

Fraser, Hugh, Balloch, Culloden

Fraser, Huntly, merchant, Inverness

Grant, John, Cardiff, Wales

Grant, General Sir Patrick, G.C.B., Chelsea, London

Grant, Robert, of Messrs Macdougall & Co., Inverness

Grant, Major W., Drumbuie, Glen-Urquhart

Innes, Charles, solicitor, Inverness.

Jerram, C. S., M.A., Woodcote House, Windlesham

Jolly, William, H.M. Inspector of Schools, Albyn Place, Inverness

Macalpin, Ken. Grant, A.I.C.E., F.R.G.S., Pembroke, South Wales

Macalpin, Donald Alex., R.N., F.R.G.S., Pembroke, Wales

Macandrew, H. C., Sheriff-Clerk, Inverness-shire

Macdonald, Alexander, Balraiiald, Uist

Macdonald, Allan, solicitor, Inverness

Macdonald, Andrew, solicitor, Inverness

Macdonald. Captain D. P., Ben-Nevis Distillery

Macdonald, John, Station Hotel, Inverness

Macdonell, Patrick, Kinchyle. Dores

Macfarquhar, John, M.A., Inverness

Macgregor, Rev. Alex., M.A., Inverness

Mackay, Charles, LL.D., Fern Dell Cottage, near Dorking.

Mackay, Donald, Sari Francisco, California

Mackay, John, of Ben Reay, near Montreal

Mackay, John Stuart, San Francisco, California

Mackay, Neil, Penylan House, Pencock, Bridgend, Wales

Mackenzie, Rev. A. D., Free Church, Kilmorack

Mackenzie, Colonel Hugh, of Parkmount, Forres

Mackenzie, John, M.D., of Eileanach, Inverness

Mackenzie, Osgood H., of Inverewe, Poolewe

Mackenzie, Captain Thomas, H.R.M., Dingwall

Mackintosh, Angus, of Holme

Mackintosh, Eneas W., of Raigmore

Mackintosh, P. A., C.E., Bridgend, Glamorgan

Members. 113

Maclean, Rev. John, Free Church, Stratherrick

Maclennan, Alexander, of Messrs Macdougall & Co., Inverness

Macpherson, Major Gordon, of Cluny

Macrae, D. J., Invershiel

Menzies, John, Caledonian Hotel, Inverness

Nicolson, Angus, LL.B., late Editor of The Gael, Glasgow

O'Hara, Thomas, Inspector of National Schools, Gort, Ireland

Ranking, D. K, M.A., Ipswich

Ross, Rev. William, Rothesay

Scott, Roderick, solicitor, Inverness

Seafield, the Right Hon. the Earl of, Castle Grant

Shaw, A. Mackintosh, Secretary's Office, G.P.O., London

Snowie, Thomas Beals, Inverness

Stewart, Charles, of Brin and Dalcrornbie, Inverness

Stewart, John, Duntulm, Skye

Stoddart, Evan, Mudgee, N.S. Wales, Australia

Sutherland, Alexander, Taff Brae Cottage, Cefn, Merthyr-Tydvil

Sutherland- Walker, Evan Charles, of Skibo

Wilson, P. G., Inverness

ORDINARY MEMBERS.

Alison, James Mackenzie, Redcastle
Baillie, Peter, Inverness
Bain, Wm., " Courier" Office, Inverness
Bannatyne, Wm. Mackinnon, Stirling
Barclay, John, accountant, Inverness
Barren, James, " Courier " Office, Inverness
Bisset, Rev. Mr, R.C., Stratherrick
Black, George, banker, Inverness

Brownlie, Alexander, rector, Raining School, Inverness
Burgess, Alex., Caledonian Bank, Gairloch
Cameron, Archibald, Auchafarick, Muasdale, Kintyre
Cameron, Donald, of Lochiel, M.P.
Campbell, Alexander, supervisor, Kyleakin, Skye
Campbell, D. A., Englishton Muir, Bunchrew
Campbell, Donald, draper, Bridge Street, Inverness
Campbell, Duncan, merchant;, Fort -Augustus
Campbell, Fraser (of Eraser <fe Campbell), High Street, Inverness
Campbell, George J., solicitor, Inverness

Campbell, T. D. (of dimming & Campbell), Ness Bank, Inverness
Carmichael, Alexander A., Inland Revenue, Lochmaddy, Uist

8

114 Transactions,

Charleson, Hector, Railway Refreshment Rooms, Forres

Charleson, Kenneth, Forres

Chisholm, Colin, Namur Lodge, Inverness

Chisholm, Simon, Flowerdale, Gairloch

Clarke, Alexander, contractor, Argyle Street, Inverness

Colvin, John, solicitor, Inverness

Cullen, James M'C., 63 Stevenson Street, Calton, Glasgow

Gumming, James, Allanfearn, Inverness

Dallas, Alexander, Town-Clerk, Inverness

Davidson, Andrew, sculptor, Inverness

Davidson, Bailie John, Inglis Street, Inverness

Davidson, Lachlan, banker, Kingussie

Dott, Donald, Caledonian Bank, Inverness

Douglas, Wm., Aberdeen Town and County Bank, Inverness

Duncan, Dr George, Conchra, Lochalsh

Duncan, John M., "Highlander" Office, Inverness

Falconer, Peter, plasterer, Inverness

Ferguson, Charles, Raigmore House, Inverness

Ferguson, Lachlan, schoolmaster, Guisachan, Strathglass

Forbes, Dr G. F., of the Bombay Army, Yiewfield House, Inverness

Forsyth, Ebenezer, "Inverness Advertiser" Office, Inverness

Forsyth, W. B., of the "Inverness Advertiser," Inverness

Fraser, Alexander, solicitor, Inverness

Fraser, Andrew, builder, Inverness

Fraser, Andrew, cabinetmaker, Union Street, Inverness

Fraser, A. R., British Linen Company, Stirling

Fraser, D., Glenelg

Fraser, Donald, solicitor, Nairn

Fraser, Hugh, inspector of poor, Inverness

Fraser, Hugh C., Haugh, Inverness

Fraser, James, of Fraser & Mactavish, Lombard Street, Inverness

Fraser, James, C.E., Inverness

Fraser, James, Mauld, Strathglass

Fraser, James, manufacturer, 41 North Albion Street, Glasgow

Fraser, Kenneth, writer, Church Street, Inverness

Fraser, Miss, Farraline Villa, North Berwick

Fraser, Peter, Beauly

Fraser, Simon, banker, Lochcarron

Fraser, William, ironmonger, Inverness

Fraser, William, jeweller, High Street, Inverness

Galloway, George, chemist, Inverness

Garden, Archibald, factor, Murthly

Gillies, H. C., Culloden

Members. 115

Glass, C. C., North Street, St Andrews

Grant, Rev. J., E.G. Manse, Ullapool

Hood, Andrew, commercial traveller, 39 Union Street, Inverness

Hood, Miss, 39 Union Street, Inverness

Hunter, James, Bobbin Works, Glengarry

Joass, W. C., architect, Ding wall

Kennedy, Donald, farmer, Drumashie, Dores

Kennedy, Neil, Kishorn, Lochcarron

Livingston, Colin, Fort- William

Loban, Robert -dimming, Caledonian Bank, Invergarry

Macbean, ex-Bailie Alexander, Inverness

Macbean, James, 77 Church Street, Inverness

Macbean, Lachlan, "Highlander" Office, Inverness

Macaskill, D., saddler, Dunvegan

Macculloch, Duncan, teacher, Inverness

Macdonald, Alexander, messenger-at-arms, Inverness

Macdonald, Alexander, flesher, New Market, Inverness

Macdonald, Alexander, mason, Abriachan

Macdonald, Sheriff Andrew L., Telford Street, Inverness

Macdonald, Donald, farmer, Culchraggie, Alness

Macdonald, Donald, painter, Inverness

Macdonald, Finlay, Druidag, Kintail

Macdonald, James, clerk, National Bank of Scotland, Inverness

Macdonald, John, banker, Buckie

Macdonald, John, flesher, Castle Street, Inverness

Macdonald, John, gamekeeper, Dunphail

Macdonald, John, Inland Revenue, Lanark

Macdonald, Johu, live stock agent, Inverness

Macdonald, John, merchant, Exchange, Inverness

Macdonald, P. G., Bridge Street, Inverness

Macdonald, Thomas, builder, Hilton Village, Inverness

Macdonald, Dr William, Inverness

Macdonald, William, Hilton Village, Inverness

Macdonald, — butler to Major Brown, Denny

Macdonell, F. D., Hastings Bay, New Zealand

Macdougall, Donald, Craggan, Grantown

Macgillivray, Finlay, solicitor, Inverness

Macgregor, Donald, 42 Glassford Street, Glasgow

Macgregor, John, hotelkeeper, Invermoriston

Macgregor, Rev. Malcolm, F.C. Manse, Ferrintosh

Maciver, Donald (student of Aberdeen University), Church Street,

Inverness
Maciver, Duncan, Church Street, Inverness

116 Transactions.

Maciver, Finlay, carver, Church Street, Inverness
Macinnes, John, innkeeper, Invergarry
Machines, Neil, hotelkeeper, Kyleakin, Skye
Macintyre, Donald, schoolmaster, Arpafeelie
Mackay, Alexander, carpenter, Rose Street, Inverness
Mackay, Charles, builder, Culduthel Road, Inverness
Mackay, David, Charles Street, Inverness
Mackay, D. J. solicitor, Inverness

Mackay, George, Royal Artillery, Gun Wharf Barracks, Ports-
mouth

Mackay, Robert, merchant, Hamilton Place, Inverness
Mackay, William, solicitor, Church Street, Inverness
Mackay, William, bookseller, High Street, Inverness
Mackenzie, Alexander, auctioneer, Inverness
Mackenzie, Alexander, wine-merchant, Church Street, Inverness
Mackenzie, A. C., teacher, Maryburgh, Dingwall
Mackenzie, Andrew, ironmonger, Alness
Mackenzie, C. D., 102 Linthorpe Road, Middlesboro'-on-Tees
Mackenzie, Rev. Dr, Silverwells, Inverness
Mackenzie, E. G., solicitor, Inverness
Mackenzie, Dr F. M., Inverness
Mackenzie, Hugh, bookbinder, Inverness
Mackenzie, Hugh, postmaster, Alness
Mackenzie, James H., bookseller, High Street, Inverness
Mackenzie, Captain John, Telford Road, Inverness
Mackenzie, Malcolm J., teacher. Public School, Lochcarron
Mackenzie, Murdoch, Inland Revenue, Tulloch, Strathdon
Mackenzie, Simon, Chambers Street, Edinburgh
Mackenzie, Thomas, Broadstone Park, Inverness
Mackenzie, William, factor, Ardross
Mackenzie, William, solicitor, Dingwall

Mackenzie, William, " Aberdeen Free Press " Office, Inverness
Mackenzie, William, draper, Bridge Street, Inverness
Mackinnon, Charles, Back Street, Campbelton, Argyll
Mackinnon, Surgeon Major-General W. A., C.B., Aldershot
Mackintosh, Charles, commission-agent, Church Street, Inverness
Mackintosh, Donald, The Hotel, Glenelg
Mackintosh, Duncan, Bank of Scotland, Oban
Mackintosh, Duncan, draper, 57 High Street, Inverness
Mackintosh, Ewen, Roy Bridge Hotel, by Kingussie
Mackintosh, Rev. John, Mauld, Strathglass
Mackintosh, Lachlan, Milton of Farr, Daviot
Mackintosh, Miss, The Brae, Denny

Members, 117

Mackintosh, Peter, Messrs Macdougall & Co.'s, Grantown

Maclaehlan, Duncan, publisher, 64 South Bridge, Edinburgh

Maclachlan, Rev. Lachlan, Gaelic Church, Inverness

Maclean, A><';vijj " , Drummond Street, Inverness

Maclean, Ate! under, teacher, Abriachan

Maclean, John, Holm Mains, Inverness

Maclean, Roderick, Ardross, Alness

Macleay, W. A., birdstufler, Inverness

Maclennan, Kenneth, clothier, Colchester

Macleod, Alexander, grocer, Bridge Street, Inverness

Macleod, Donald, painter, Church Street, Inverness

Macleod, Robert, commercial-traveller, Leith

MacmiJlan, Archd., Kaihuna, Havelock, MarJborough, N.Z.

Macmillan, Duncan, Bundalloch, Kintail

Macmillan, John, Kingsmilis Road, Inverness

Macnee, Dr, Inverness

Macneil, Nigel, Dumbarton Road, Glasgow

Macphail, Alexander, farmer, Cullaird, Dores

Macphater, Angus, Lintmill of Campbelton, Argyll

Macpherson, Col. A.. F., of Catlodge, Waverley Hotel, Inverness

Macpherson, D., Glenness Place, Inverness

Macpherson, Duncan, 3 Union Street, Inverness

Macpherson, James, Rose Slreet, Inveruess

Macpherson, Mrs Sarah, Alexandra Villa, Kingussie

Macrae, Alexander M. M., Glenoze, Skye

Macrae, Rev. A., Free Church Manse, Clachan, Kintyre

Macrae, Rev. Angus, Glen-Urquhart

Macrae, Donald, High School, Inverness

Macrae, Duncan A., Fernaig, Lochalsh

Macrae, Duncan, A^'dintou!, Lochalsh

Macrae, Ewen, Braintrath, ]jochalsh

Macrae, R., postmaster, Beauly

Macrae, Roderick, Island of Eigg, by Greenock

Macraild, A. R., Inverness

Macraild, John, Laggan, Fort- Augustus

Macraild, Norman, Colbost, Dunvegan

Matheson, Captain A., Dornie, Lochalsh

Matheson, Dr Farquhar, Soho Square, London

Matheson, John, supervisor, Alness

M'elven, James, bookseller, Inverness

Menzies, Duncan, Ness Bank, Inverness

Menzies, Rev. John, M.A., Fordoun

Morrison, Robert, jeweller, Inverness

118 Transactions.

Morrison, William, rector, Dingwall Academy

Mundell, John, late of Scallisaig, Glenelg

Munro, A. R., 57 Camphill Road, Birmingham

Munro, John, wine-merchant, Inverness

Murdoch, Christopher, gamekeeper, Kyleakin, Skye

Murdoch, John, " The Highlander," Inverness

Murray, William, chief-constable, The Castle, Inverness

Nicholson, Jonathan, wine and spirit merchant, Pershore Street,

Birmingham

Noble, Andrew, Lombard Street, Inverness
Noble, Donald, baker, Muirtown Street, Inverness
Noble, John, bookseller, Castle Street, Inverness
O'Leary, Denis A., Charleville, County Cork
Ramsay, Donald, Academy Street, Inverness
Rhind, John, architect, Inverness

Rose, Rev. A. Macgregor, F.C. Manse, Evie and Rendall, Orkney
Rose, Hugh, solicitor, Inverness
Ross, Alex., architect, Inverness
Ross, Alex., teacher, Alness
Ross, D. R., Gas Office, Inverness
Ross, James, shipowner, Portland Place, Inverness
Ross, Jonathan, draper, Inverness
Ross, Rodk., Middlesboro'-on-Tees
Shaw, Hugh, tinsmith, Inverness
Shaw, John D., accountant, Inverness
Simpson, Provost, Inverness

Sinclair, Duncan, teacher, Parish School, Lochalsh
Sinclair, Roderick, High Street, Inverness
Sinton, Thomas, Nuide, Kingussie
Smith, Rev. F., Arpafeelie

Smith, Thomas A., clerk, Waterloo Place, Inverness
Smith, Wm. Alex., 46 Brown Street, Manchester
Snowie, W. M., Inverness
Stewart, Rev. A., Ballachulish
Stewart, Colin J., Dingwall
Stewart, Robert, shipbuilder, Inverness
Sutherland, Rev. A. C., Strathbraan, Perthshire
Tulloch, John, painter, Inverness
Watson, Rev. William, Kiltearn, Evanton
White, David, Church Street, Inverness
White, John, Logie-Almond, Perthshire
Wilson, George, S.S.C., H Hill Street, Edinburgh

Members. 119

APPRENTICES.

Fraser, John, 11 Argyll Street, Inverness

Macdonald, Murdoch, with Maciver & Co., Church Street, Inver-
ness

Macdougall, Charles, Lombard Street, Inverness
Macgillivray, William, assistant grocer, P.O. Buildings, Inverness
Mackay, James John, Drummond, Inverness
Mackenzie, Alex., assistant grocer. Hamilton Place, Inverness
Mackintosh, John, 57 High Street, Inverness
Macpherson, Wm., with Maciver & Co., Church Street, Inverness
Matheson, Alexander, stonecutter, Academy Street, Inverness
Packman, James, Church Street, Inverness
Ross, Alexander, 57 High Street, Inverness
Ross, Donald, Union Street, Inverness
Smith, Alexander, grocer, Bridge Street, Inverness
Thomson, Robert, High Street, Inverness

DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE
SOCIETY.

LIFE MEMBER.

Halley, Alex., M.D., F.G.S., London.

HONORARY MEMBER.

Neaves, Hon. Lord, LL.D., Edinburgh.

ORDINARY MEMBERS.

Campbell, Alex., Grant Street, Inverness.
Davidson, James, solicitor, Inverness.
Macaskill, John, Scourie, Lairg.
Macdonald, Angus, Queen Street, Inverness.
Macdonald, Coll, Lochend, near Inverness.
Macdonald, Robert, Telford Road, Inverness.
Urquhart, Murdo, Inverness.

LIST OF BOOKS IN THE SOCIETY'S LIBRARY.

NAMES OF BOOKS. DONOR.

1871.

Ossian's Poems (H. Society's edition, \ Colonel Mackenzie,

Gaelic and Latin), 3 vols / Poyntzfield

Smith's Gaelic Antiquities ditto

Smith's Seann Dana ditto

Highland Society's Report on Ossian's

Poems ditto

Stewart's Sketches of the Highlands, 2 vols.. ditto

Skene's Picts and Scots ditto

Dan Oisein Mhic Fhinn ditto

Macleod's Oran Nuadh Gaelach ditto

An Teachdaire Gaelach, 1829-30 ditto

Carew's Ecclesiastical History of Ireland ...Mr W. Mackay

Grain Ghilleasbuig Grannd, 2 copies Mr Charles Mackay

Macconnell's Reul-eolas ditto

Maclauchlan's Celtic Gleanings Rev. Dr Maclauchlan

1872.

Maclauchlan's Early Scottish Church ditto

The Dean of Lismore's Book ditto

Macleod & Dewar's Gaelic Dictionary * ditto

Highland Society's do., 2 vols Sir Ken. S. Mackenzie

of Gairloch, Bart.
Ritson's Caledonians, Picts and Scots, 2 vols. ditto

Dr Walker's Hebrides, 2 vols ditto

Campbell's Language, Poetry, and Music of

the Highland Clans ... , Mr John Murdoch

MacnicoFs Remarks on Dr Johnson's Tour

in the Hebrides ditto

S omer's Letters from the Highlands ditto

122 Transactions.

NAMES OF BOOKS. DONOR.

Cameron's Chemistry of Agriculture Mr John Murdoch

Sketches of Islay ditto

Cameron's History of Skye ditto

Kennedy's Bardic Stories of Ireland ditto

Hicky's Agricultural Class-book ditto

Grain Gaelach Mhic Dhunleibhe ditto

The Wolf of Badenoch ditto

Familiar Illustrations of Scottish Life ditto

Antiquity of the Gaelic Language • ditto

The Dauntless Red Hugh of Tyrconnell ditto

The Kilchoman People Vindicated ditto

Caraid a Ghael— searmon ditto

Highland Clearances the cause of Highland

Famines ditto

Co-operative Associations ditto

Lecture ditto

Review of " Eight Days in Islay " ditto

Gold Diggings in Sutherland ditto

Review of Language of Ireland ditto

Highland Character ditto

An Teachdaire Gaelach, 1 829-30 ditto

The Scottish Regalia , ditto

Campbell's West Highland Tales, 4 vols. ...Mr Alex. Mackenzie

Bliadhna Thearlaich ditto

Macfarlane's Collection of Gaelic Poems Miss Hood

Old Gaelic Bible (partly MS.) J. Mackenzie, M.D., of

Eileanach

Machale's Irish Pentateuch Professor Bourke

Irish Translation of Moore's Melodies ditto

The Bull "Ineffabilis" (Latin, English,

Gaelic, and French) ditto

Celtic Language and Dialects ditto

Bourke's Irish Gran^mar ditto

Bourke's Easy Lessons in Irish ditto

Mackenzie's Beauties of Gaelic Poetry Rev. W. Ross, Rothe-

say

Macrimmon's Piobaireachd Rev. A. Macgregor

Stratton's Gaelic Origin of Greek and Latin ditto

Gaelic Translation of Apocrypha (by Rev.

A. Macgregor) ditto

Buchanan' s Historia Scotise Mr William Mackay

The Game Laws, by R. G. Tolmie ditto

Library. 123

NAMES OF BOOKS. DONOR.

St James's Magazine, vol. i Mr Mackay, book-
seller, Inverness

Fingal (edition 1 762) C. Eraser-Mackintosh,

Esq., M.P.

Collection of English Poems (2 vols) Mr D. Mackintosh

Philologic Uses of the Celtic Tongue Mr D. Maciver

Scoto-Celtic Philology Lord Neaves, LL.D.,

F.R.S.E.
1873.

Dana Oisein (Maclauchlan's edition) Maclachlan & Stewart

Munro's Gaelic Primer ditto

M 'Alpine's Gaelic Dictionary ditto

M'Mhuirich's "Duanaire" ditto

Munro's Gaelic Grammar ditto

Grain Mhic-an-t-Saoir ditto

Grain Uilleam Ros ditto

Ceithir Searmoin, le Dr Dewar ditto

Carsewell's Prayer Book (Gaelic) Purchased

Scot's Magazine (1757) Mr A. Macbean

History of the Rebellion, 1 745-46 Mr D. Mackintosh

Welsh Bible Mr L. Mackintosh

Gld Gaelic New Testament Mr L. Macbean

Adhamh agus Eubh (Adam and Eve) ditto

Old Gaelic Bible ditto

Grain Ailein Dughalach ditto

Macpherson's Poems of Gssian ditto

1874.

An Gaidheal for 1873 The Publishers

Grain, cruinnichte le Mac-an-Tuairnear Mr A. M. Shaw, Lon-
don

The Gospels, in eight Celtic dialects Mr J. Mackay, Shrews-
bury

Eraser of Knockie' s Highland Music Mr Mackenzie, Bank

Lane, Inverness
1875.

The Clan Battle at Perth, by A. M. Shaw..The Author

The Scottish Metrical Psalms Mr J. Eraser, Glasgow

Sailm Dhaibhidh Ameadreachd (Ed. 1659).

1876.

Biographical Dictionary of Eminent ) Mr A. R. Macraild,
Scotsmen (9 vols.) J Inverness

Transactions.

NAMES OF BOOKS. DONOR.

Grain Gbilleasbnig Grannd Mr J. Craigie, Dundee

Clarsach nam Beann. ditto

Fulangas Chiiosd di i;to

Dain Spioradail ditto

Spiritual Songs (Gaelic and English) ditto

Alexander Maceionald's Gaelic Poeins ditto

Grain Mhic-an-t-Saoir . . diito

Leabhar nan ceist ditto

Co-eigneachadh Soisgeulach (Boston) ditto

History of the Druids (Toland's) ditto

Melodies from the Gaelic ditto

Maclean's History of the Celtic Language. . . ditto

Leabhar Sailm ditto

Grigin and Descent of the Gael ditto

Stewart's Gaelic Grammar ditto

Maepherson's Caledonian Antiquities (1768) ditto

Biboul Noimbh (London 1 855) d:uo

SeaiTuona Mhic Dhiarmaid dioto

Dain Giseiu ditto

Fingal (1762) ditto

Life of Columba (1798) ditto

Grain Rob Duinn Mhic Aoidh ditto

Dain leis an Urr. J. Lees ditto

Searmona leis an Urr. E. Blarach ditto

Eaglais na h-Alba, leis an Urr. A. Clare,

Inbhirnis ditto

Bourke's Aryan Grigin of the Gaelic Race.. Mr J. Mackay, Shrews-
bury

Reed's Bibliotheca Scoto-Celtica ditto

Munro's Gaelic Primer (3 copies in library).. Purchased
Eachdraidh na h-Alba, le A. Mac Coinnich

(3 copies in library) The Author

Dain Grail ig leis an Urr. I. Lees Rev. Dr Lees, Paisley

Philologic Uses of the Celtic Tongue, by

Professor Geddes (1872) The Author

Philologic Uses of the Celtic Tongue (1873).. ditto

Poems by Ossian, in metre (1769) Mr Alex. Kennedy,

Inverness

Proceedings of the Historical and Archaeo-
logical Association of Ireland (1870-3). The Society

Shaw's Gaelic Dictionary (1780) Rev. A. Macgregor

History of the Culdees, Maccallum's ditto

Library. 125

NAMES OP BOOKS. DONOR.

Macdiarmid's Gaelic Sermons (MS., 1773). .Rev. A. Macgregor.

Gaelic Grammar, Irish character (1808) ditto

Gaelic Pentateuch , Irish character ditto

Gaelic Book of Common Prayer (1819) ditto

Gaelic Psalter, Irish charac ter ditto

Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inver-
ness, vols. i., ii., iii., and iv

Bibliotheca Scoto-Celtica

Orain le Rob Donn

Leabhar Oran Gaidhealach

Vible Casherick, Manx

Biobla Naomtha, Irish

Dr Smith's Seann Dana

Evans's Welsh Grammar and Vocabulary...

Orain Uilleam Ros

Orain Dhonncha Bhain

Co-chruinneachadh Orain Gailig

Book of Psalms, Irish

Orain Nuadh Gaidhealach, le A. Macdhomh-
nuill

Laoidhean o'n Sgriobtuir, D. Dewar

Leabhar Oran Gailig

Am Biobla Naomhtha (1690)

The Family of loua

Grant's Origin and Descent of the Gael

Rathad Dhe gu Sith ,

Dain Spioradail, CJrr. I. Griogaloch

Dara Leabhar airson nan Sgoilean Gaidh-
ealach

Treas Leabhar do. do

What Patriotism, Justice, and Christianity
demand for India

Orain Ghaidhealach

Priolo's Illustrations from Ossian Purchased

Photograph of Gaelic Charter, 1 408 Rev. W. Ross, Rothe-

say

The Celtic Magazine, vol. i The Publisher

Elementary Lessons in Gaelic The Author

NOTE.

With reference to the foot-note on page 149 of the last
volume of Transactions, Mr Jolly writes to the Society that, when
speaking on the teaching of Gaelic at the annual supper of the
Society in 1875, he referred, amongst other matters, to the fact
that Highland schools could be successfully taught by Lowland
teachers who did not know Gaelic, for the purpose of showing that
the area of selection of teachers for Highland schools need not be
narrowed to Gaelic-speaking teachers only. In proof of this he
named certain schools he had visited, which were amongst the
best schools in the North, which were taught by Lowland teachers,
ignorant of Gaelic when appointed, and regarding which he had
noted the very high general intelligence of the pupils. The schools
he then mentioned were — Lochcarron, Eddrachillis, Portree,
Duirinish, Benbecula, and Kingussie, all which were taught at
the time he referred to by non-Gaelic teachers. None of the
teachers of these schools had written to the newspapers on the
subject, with the exception of the teacher of Portree, who had
written to the opposite effect to the "Highlander." The only
teacher of all those he had spoken of, who had acquired Gaelic
since settling in the Highlands, was the teacher of Duirinish,
who had written a sensible letter, in reply to one from Mr Jolly,
to say that though he had acquired Gaelic he would not begin
with it in school

PB

1501
G3
v.5

Gaelic Society of Inverness
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